By ITP
US Defence Secretary visits Abu Dhabi
Leon Panetta meets with counterpart Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in UAE capital

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (3rd L) is greeted at the airport upon his arrival on March 15, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE is Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (C) talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) as they walk to dinner at the Emirates Palace Hotel March 15, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE is Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (R) is greeted at the airport upon his arrival on March 15, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE is Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (L) poses for a photo with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan before the two sat for dinner at the Emirates Palace Hotel March 15, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE is Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (R) is greeted at the airport upon his arrival on March 15, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE is Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta waves as he boards his plane to return to Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The UAE was Panetta’s final stop on his multi-nation tour during which he also visited Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. (Getty Images)