Nation digest 09/21/04

Bush and Kerry teams agree on three debates

DERRY, N.H. -- Negotiators for President Bush and Democrat John Kerry agreed Monday to three 90-minute debates beginning Sept. 30, including one town-hall format with questions from undecided voters in the audience. The first debate will be Sept. 30 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., the second one -- with the town-hall style format -- at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 8, and the third at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 13. There also will be a vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland on Oct. 5.

Florida rep likely to get Senate OK for CIA post

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller brought two thick binders of statements to a confirmation hearing for Rep. Porter Goss Monday to drive home his belief that President Bush's choice to head the CIA is too political for the job. But the Florida Republican and his supporters rejected the argument. Goss' nomination is expected to be approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee today and come up for debate in the Republican-led Senate as early as next week. Goss served as House Intelligence chairman for nearly eight years ending in August.

Tucson diocese files for bankruptcy over abuse

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson filed for bankruptcy Monday, becoming the second U.S. diocese to seek court protection because of the cost of clerical sex abuse cases. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas told parishioners in June that bankruptcy appeared to be the only option remaining for the diocese, which serves 350,000 Catholics in more than 70 parishes. The diocese settled 11 abuse lawsuits for an undisclosed sum two years ago, and by the latest count, 22 more molestation claims with 34 plaintiffs have been brought against the diocese. The Portland Archdiocese in Oregon became the first U.S. diocese to file for bankruptcy on July 6.

Imam gets prison for lying on citizenship application

AKRON, Ohio -- The leader of Ohio's largest mosque was sentenced Monday to two months in federal prison and four months of house arrest for lying about his connections to terrorist groups when he applied for U.S. citizenship. Palestinian-born Fawaz Damra, imam of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, could have received up to five years in prison on the charge of obtaining U.S. citizenship in 1994 by providing false information. Damra was convicted June 17. The government said that when he applied for citizenship, he concealed ties to Afghan Refugee Services, the Islamic Committee for Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, groups the U.S. government classifies as terrorist organizations.

Pentagon sets up new HQ to plan D.C. defense

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has established a new military headquarters whose mission is to defend the nation's capital and to assist civil authorities in responding to a terrorist attack here. The Joint Forces Headquarters for the National Capital Region is based at Fort McNair. The new Joint Forces Headquarters is to prevent if possible -- and respond to, if not -- surprise attack by terrorists using nuclear, chemical, biological or other unconventional means, Army Maj. Gen. Galen B. Jackson said Monday. One of those vulnerabilities is the proximity of the White House, the Capitol and other government buildings to commercial air traffic.

-- From wire reports