By: Barry Soper | Monday, September 17, 2012 6:00 AM

Uncle Sam will be waving the stars and stripes in God's own this week.

When, where and how is still something of a mystery though. The media hacks have been told they have to be accredited for the visit of American Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and that means they have to send their details into the authorities so their creds can be checked out.

But we're not being told when the secretary's arriving or where he'll be visiting, presumably because if we knew then so would those who'd wish the defence chief harm.

What the visit does say is that the Americans have forgiven us for our anti nuclear stand but the bet is they haven't forgotten. This will be the third visit to this part of the world by the defence secretary in the past year.

So why is Uncle Sam suddenly embracing his recalcitrant nephew?

Well, it has everything to do with the Chinese dragon warmly embracing countries in this part of the world. There's nothing like a threat to American dominance to spur them into action.

The charm offensive began almost two years ago when Bill's missus Hillary Clinton clinked glasses in the Beehive. Then State Homie John Key wallowed on the red carpet in Washington last year.

Staying in the President's guest house across the road from the big white mansion The Homie met all the big wigs from the Obama brigade, including Secretary Panetta.

The defence secretary will meet with his counterpart here, Jonathan Coleman, who says he'll be thanking the Americans for the great help they've given us in Afghanistan. Helping to repatriate the bodies of the 10 young men we've lost there over the past few years will be part of our gratitude.

He'll also be thanked for helping to remove our wounded soldiers from the battlefield and getting them to Germany.

But then we wouldn't be in Afghanistan if it wasn't for the Americans and surely they would have had little choice but to assist our soldiers, essentially serving under their command!

Photo: Getty Images