Eighteen nations are preparing for a weeklong series of maneuvers off Panama’s coast designed to safeguard the country’s famous canal from terror attacks, a U.S. military chief said on Thursday. “All nations of the Western Hemisphere have a vested interest in safeguarding this vital waterway,” said Cmdr. Bruce Erickson of the U.S. Southern Command in Panama City on the eve of the official start to “Panamax 2006,” an annual event sponsored by the United States since 2003. Full Story