[RitchieAprile]

Its SOP. Noone gets near a Cabinet officer with a weapon
without the required clearance. No need to foam at the mouth over this.

[Jeff Chandler]

No need to foam at the mouth over this.

Knee jerks required, LOL!

[DManA]

The reporter apparently doesn't know this. She states it was a decision made by the commander:

<\Later, American officials said that the top commander in Helmand, Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus, had decided on Tuesday that no one would be armed while Mr. Panetta spoke to them, but the word did not reach those in charge in the tent until shortly before Mr. Panetta was due to arrive.

[Chainmail]

"Its SOP. Noone gets near a Cabinet officer with a weapon"

Since when? I have briefed two different SecNavs and I was armed to the teeth on both occasions. In 1968 I was assigned as a guard for LBJ when he met with the Marines being sent over to reinforce Khe Sanh. I was armed with a loaded M-14 and LBJ was in full view of me the whole time.

Since when are our leaders afraid of their own troops?