Periscope

BAGHDAD VS. KABUL: Although President Bush has assured the world that America plans to stay in Iraq, Afghanistan is not an encouraging precedent. A high-level military team sent to assess the stability of the country came away disheartened. "The job is just not done," said a source close to one of the generals on the team. "There were conference calls every day with Rumsfeld and Tommy Franks. They were told that they needed more men and equipment. But he turned down the request--no more money." Perhaps they should ask for a tax cut instead.

Nigella Lawson

She could pass for the love child of Wolfgang Puck and Sophia Loren--if it weren't for that British accent. Television's domestic goddess recently launched a new season of cooking shows, "Forever Summer With Nigella," and published her fourth book, also called "Forever Summer." Lawson chewed the fat with NEWSWEEK's Jac Chebatoris.

You're not trained as a chef. Doesn't that make you an easy target for critics?

I have friends who are great chefs, and they love what I do because there isn't a great chef who hasn't got fond memories of home cooking. They know I'm not trying to do the same thing that they are. It's the wanna-be great chefs that feel threatened.

One thing women seem to love about you is that you obviously eat.