Politics

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Police surround activists in front of the Syrian embassy in Berlin Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. 20 people forced their way into Syria's embassy in the German capital and damaged offices there. Police said the men — all of them Syrian or of Syrian origin — destroyed furniture in the building Friday afternoon and sprayed slogans on the facade. (AP Photo/dapd, Michael Gottschalk)

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In this citizen journalism image provided by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria and released Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, an anti-Syrian regime protester, holds a poster with caricature depicting the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 2nd left, pumping up their ally Syrian President Bashar Assad, centre, as she walks during a demonstration in Idlib Province, north Syria. Russia's deputy defense minister says Moscow will not stop arms sales to Syria. Russian state news agencies quoted Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on Thursday as saying Russia is not violating any international obligations. Arabic on the poster reads, "free people of occupied Kfarnebel." (AP Photo/Local Coordination Committees in Syria)

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in Elko, Nev. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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Delegate Chris Jones, Suffolk Republican, during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond on Jan. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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Delegate Mark Cole, Spotsylvania Republican, listens to a fellow delegate during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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President Obama talks Feb. 3, 2012, about the economy during an event at Fire Station #5 in Arlington, Va. (Associated Press)

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In this citizen journalism image provided by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria and released Feb. 1, 2012, an anti-Syrian regime protester holds a poster in Arabic that reads, "to the Syrian freedom soldiers, our hearts are bases for you," as he walks during a demonstration in Idlib Province, north Syria. (Associated Press/Local Coordination Committees in Syria)

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**FILE** Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) meets with Kyrgyzstan President Roza Otunbayeva in Bishkek on Dec. 2, 2010. (Associated Press)

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In this citizen journalism image provide by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria and released Feb. 1, 2012, an anti-Syrian regime protester holds an Arabic poster that reads, "tomorrow we shall remember a year's passing since the birth of death," as she walks during a demonstration in Idlib Province, north Syria. (Associated Press/Local Coordination Committees in Syria)

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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**FILE** Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is seen Oct. 31, 2011, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, is very skeptical the federal government can afford to provide $200 million over a decade in new funding the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City in tough budget times. (Associated Press)

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has heard from fellow Republican Sen. Tom Coburn challenging a “duplicative funding stream” for the private 9/11 museum. (Associated Press)

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Dreaming of CPAC: the fabulous conservative gathering begins next Thursday with speakers that include all four Republican hopefuls and Sarah Palin. (image from American Conservative Union)

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D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics member Devarieste Curry questions a witness during a hearing Thursday. Derek Ford (below, left) campaign treasurer for council member Yvette M. Alexander of Ward 7, confers with attorney David Wilmot during the hearing about allegations of violating the petition code of conduct in collecting signatures.

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Derek Ford, left, campaign treasurer for D.C. Council member Yvette M. Alexander, confers with the campaign's attorney, David Wilmot, during a D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics hearing Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)