Politics

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Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has started winning public support while trying to guide the nation through its post-tsunami crisis. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS A protester is stopped by police in a street in Dublin on Tuesday during a demonstration against the first-ever visit to Ireland of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen set foot on Irish soil at the start of a historic state visit that will herald a new era in relations between Britain and Ireland.

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Queen Elizabeth II signs the visitor's book at Aras An Uachtarain, the Irish president's residence in Phoenix Park in Dublin on Tuesday. Irish President Mary McAleese; her husband, Dr. Martin McAleese (left); and Prince Philip look on. Politicians on both side of the Irish Sea have described the four-day event as momentous.

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President Obama is seen here during a meeting Tuesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office of the White House. (Associated Press)

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President Obama speaks to reporters Tuesday as he meets with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office at the White House. (Associated Press)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, arm and arm with his lawyer Billy Martin, leaves the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, center, exits the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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The media surrounds former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson as he arrives at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson arrives at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. At left is his lawyer Billy Martin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson arrives at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. At left is his lawyer Billy Martin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, arm and arm with his lawyer Billy Martin, leaves the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson heads to his car after leaving the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. At right is his lawyer Billy Martin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson speaks to the media outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson speaks to the media outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, left, and lawyer Billy Martin, speak to the media outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Former Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson heads to his car after leaving the U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of witness tampering. At right is his lawyer Billy Martin. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Syrians who fled from violence in their country's western villages along the Lebanese-Syrian border protest against Syrian President Bashar Assad and his regime, in the Wadi Khaled area of Lebanon, about one-half mile from the border, on Monday, May 16, 2011. (AP Photo)