Politics

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** FILE ** German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during a government statement as part of a meeting of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

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This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian security agents next to a vehicle on fire following a huge explosion that shook central Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. A car bomb shook central Damascus on Thursday, exploding near the headquarters of the ruling Baath party and the Russian Embassy, eyewitnesses and opposition activists said. (AP Photo/SANA)

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Rose Gottemoeller, acting undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, was in Moscow last week for talks that included discussion of proposed new arms reductions. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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The National Journal has ranked Sen. James E. Risch, Idaho Republican, as the most conservative senator. (Associated press)

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Former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to misusing more than $750,000 in campaign funds and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to misusing more than $750,000 in campaign funds and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Israeli President Shimon Peres (right) speaks with Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, in Jerusalem on Wednesday. The swing through the Middle East is bolstering Mr. Rubio’s experience in foreign policy. (Associated Press)

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Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder present the Medal of Valor to St. Petersburg, Fla., Police Sgt. Karl Lounge, Jr., Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. The medal is the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Former Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his legal team arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington on Feb. 20, 2013. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Pentagon Comptroller Robert F. Hale listens as Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen testify regarding the Department of Defense fiscal 2012 budget request before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 15, 2011. (Associated Press)