Politics

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Sharon Schneider, right, of Decatur, Georgia, and friend Patricia Brown, left, of Atlanta, Georgia, react as President Barack Obama is sworn in on inauguration day on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (Allison Shelley / The Washington Times)

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Married coule Joe Savage and Devan Southerland of Baltimore embrace after the swearing in of President Barack Obama on inauguration day on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. "I never ever thought we'd see this day," said Savage. (Allison Shelley / The Washington Times)

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** FILE ** A man waves a flag from atop part of the World War II Memorial after the swearing in of President Barack Obama on inauguration day on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (Allison Shelley / The Washington Times)

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Trash litters the ground after the crowds being to dissipate from around the Washington Monument on inauguration day on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (Allison Shelley / The Washington Times)

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In this image released by the White House, first lady Michelle Obama greets David Hall, one of eight citizen co-chairs for the Inauguration, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 17, 2013. (Associated Press/The White House, Lawrence Jackson)

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Syrians struggle to get pillows and blankets distributed at a camp for displaced civilians, in the village of Atmeh, Syria. Other Syrians have escaped the conflict by going to neighboring countries, taxing the ability of those nations and international relief agencies to help them. "In terms of the overall numbers, it is very clear the region is facing a humanitarian disaster that is deepening by the day," said Sharon Waxman, of the International Rescue Committee's Commission on Syrian Refugees. (Associated Press)

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Rear Adm. Craig Faller, commander of the John C. Stennis Strike Group, is welcomed home by his wife, Martha, as the USS Stennis returned to Bremerton, Wash., in March. The stay was shortened from December to August. (Associated Press)

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People wearing masks are common in many Chinese cities now choked by dense smog, including Wuhan in Hubei province. Air pollution is a major problem because of the country’s rapid changes and disregard for environmental laws, but, for the first time, government officials are talking about it. (Associated Press)

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Vice President Joseph R. Biden addresses the U.S. Conference of Mayors 81st winter meeting in Washington on Jan. 17, 2013. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** In this photo provided by Turkish Prime Minister's Press Service, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his wife Emine Erdogan hold newly born babies during a visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Sanliurfa, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012. Erdogan repeated a call on Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer)

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Vice President Joseph R. Biden addresses the U.S. Conference of Mayors 81st winter meeting in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)