BANGKOK (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he knows of no other senior U.S. military officers being linked to the David Petraeus investigation that has ensnared the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen.

Speaking at a Bangkok news conference today, Panetta said he retains confidence in Allen.

Panetta declined to describe the nature of the emails and other correspondence between Allen and Florida socialite Jill Kelley, which others have called flirtatious and possibly problematic.

The defense chief says he wants to be careful with his words in order not to jeopardize the Pentagon inspector general investigation he ordered Monday.

Panetta also told reporters that he could not rule out that the Taliban in Afghanistan might try to use Petraeus' admission of an extramarital affair for propaganda purposes.

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