Politics

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Associated Press Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman Jr. defended his decision to concentrate on the New Hampshire primary, saying, "They actually pick presidents."

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Air Force Tech Sgt. Matthew Pierce is swarmed by daughters (from left) Kimi, 16; Kathleen, 11; Keri Lu, 14, and Kris, 18, as he returns home Dec. 16 from a six-month stint in Afghanistan, one of his numerous deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan in his 11 years in the military.

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Volunteers shake hands and welcome home soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at the international arrival gate of Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Baltimore, MD, Friday, December 16, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, here with state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., supports raising the "flush tax" and making it more progressive. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Republican (GOP) campaign losses and amnesia Illustration by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

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Illustration: GOP Rino by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

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People mount bodies onto mules after Turkey's air force attacked suspected Kurdish rebels on Wednesday night, killing 35, many of them believed to be smugglers mistaken for guerrillas. It was one of the largest one-day civilian death tolls incurred during Turkey's 27-year drive against militant Kurds seeking autonomy. (Associated Press)

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Iranian Navy personnel take part Dec. 28, 2011, in their naval maneuvers dubbed Velayat 90 on the Sea of Oman, Iran. (Associated Press/Xinhua)

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Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota speaks Dec. 29, 2011, during a campaign stop at Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** F-15 warplanes of the Saudi Air Force fly over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Jan. 25, 2009, during a graduation ceremony at King Faisal Air Force University. (Associated Press)

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Masked Hamas militants march with their guns Dec. 27, 2011, during a parade in Gaza City to mark the third anniversary of the Israeli offensive on Gaza in 2008. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** Republican presidential hopeful and Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks Dec. 19, 2011, to local residents during a campaign stop at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Manchester, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks Dec. 29, 2011, during a campaign stop at the City Hall in Coralville, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly (center) briefs New York police officials and John O. Brennan (center left), assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism, and Deputy New York Police Commissioner of Intelligence David Cohen (center right) on Sept. 26, 2009, at police headquarters in New York on events surrounding an alleged plot to bomb New York commuter trains. (Associated Press/NYPD)

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**FILE** Anti-Syrian regime protesters, some wearing Syrian revolution flags, gather Dec. 21, 2011, during a night demonstration in the Baba Amr area, in Homs province, Syria. (Associated Press)

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Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks Dec. 28, 2011, to local residents during a campaign stop at USA Furniture and Bedding in Dubuque, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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In this image made from KRT video, North Korea's next leader Kim Jong Un is seen during a memorial service for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/KRT via APTN)

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Mitt Romney, shown with his wife, Ann, says he would back any Republican nominee challenging President Obama - including Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Fellow Republican challenger Newt Gingrich said he felt he could not support Mr. Paul. Mrs. Romney confirmed reports that she was the one who had to talk her husband into running for president again. (Associated Press)

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North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong Un, front left, salutes beside the hearse carrying the body of his late father and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the funeral procession in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. Behind Kim Jong Un, in order are Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law and vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, and Workers Party officials Choe Thae Bok and Kim Ki Nam. At far right is Ri Yong Ho, the Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army, and behind him is People's Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong Chun. (AP Photo)