The United States said Friday that it was “profoundly disappointed and troubled” by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling it an attempt to “legitimize Assad.” The Syrian Presidency said Friday that Assad met with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also a vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE, making his first trip to an Arab country since the Syrian war began in 2011. “The meeting dealt with the overall relations between the two countries and the prospects for expanding the circle of bilateral cooperation, especially at the economic, investment, and commercial levels,” the office said in a post on Twitter. Assad also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who described Syria as “a fundamental pillar of Arab security and that the UAE is keen to strengthen cooperation with it.” The two leaders also discussed …