Rumsfeld praises Panama for protecting the canal

Rumsfeld praises Panama for protecting the canal    U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld praised the Panamanian government for its efforts to protect the canal against terrorist activity on Saturday during a visit to Panama City .
   Panama and other countries in the region continue to participate in the “Enduring Freedom” naval cooperation initiative focused on security of the Panama Canal. The cooperation was initiated by Rumsfeld two years ago.
   Panama joined naval forces from eight other countries last August to conduct PANAMAX, a maritime exercise in which the participants responded to a “notional” security threat against the canal, the U.S. Defense Department said.
   Panamanian President Martin Torrijos said his government has made investments in radar and industrial security measures to protect the canal. “Our responsibility as Panamanians is to guarantee that the transit of shipping will be safe and secure,” Torrijos said in a Nov. 13 statement.