Politics

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U.S. tanks move during a military exercise near the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, on Dec. 13, 2012. (Associated Press)

Scientists and technicians work on their computers to control the launch of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket at the General Satellite Control and Command Center in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Dec. 12, 2012. (Associated Press)

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Israeli soldiers take aim during clashes with Palestinians (not seen) in the West Bank city of Hebron on Dec. 13, 2012, during the funeral of Mohammed Suleima, 17, who was killed by Israeli troops. Thousands of Palestinians marched through the streets of the city, chanting anti-Israel slogans and waving green Hamas flags. (Associated Press)

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South Korean presidential candidates (from left) Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, Lee Jung-hee of the opposition Unified Progressive Party and Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party prepare for a televised debate in Seoul on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Kim Jae-hwan, Pool)

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Bill Newell, special agent in charge of ATF Phoenix, speaks Jan. 25, 2011, behind a cache of seized weapons in Phoenix. The ATF is under fire over a Phoenix-based gun-trafficking investigation called "Fast and Furious," in which agents allowed hundreds of guns into the hands of straw purchasers in hopes of making a bigger case. (Associated Press) **FILE**

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This Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows damages after an explosion hit the main gate of the Syrian Interior Ministry in Damascus, Syria. Three bombs collapsed walls in the Syrian Interior Ministry building Wednesday in Damascus, killing several, as rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad edged closer to the capital, the symbol of his power. (AP Photo/SANA)

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** FILE ** American Conservative Union President Al Cardenas is among conservative leaders warning Republicans that “the whole leftist apparatus is gearing up to panic you.” (Gage Skidmore)

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Members of the media crowd around a model of the White House as the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region and the D.C. National Guard hold a final inauguration day planning symposium using a 40- by 60-foot map of downtown D.C. and the National Mall, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, December 12, 2012. The inauguration day events are planned out for months with a number of different military and civilian organizations. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Members of the media crowd around a model of the White House for the military’s final Inauguration Day planning symposium Wednesday that featured a 40-by 60-foot map of downtown D.C. and the Mall. “The military does rehearsals better than anybody,” said Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, who commands a joint task force for the National Capital Region. The inaugural events are planned out for months in advance with a number of military and civilian organizations. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Mayor Michael Coleman (center) of Columbus, Ohio, said after a White House visit on Wednesday that failure to reach agreement on taxes will “rise above frustration” for the middle class. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Speaker of the House John Boehner, Ohio Republican, speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)