News stories from Saturday February 20, 1982

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

Attempts to extend the budget debate into the fall, if necessary, will be made by the White House, administration officials say. They also acknowledge that the administration currently lacks congressional support for passage of the 1983 budget. The officials believe that extension of the debate will reduce the pressure on President Reagan to alter his economic proposals. His aides, who call the delay strategy "a strategy of patience," hope that the economy will improve in the meantime, providing the President with a stronger political base from which to advance his economic program. [New York Times] Some voters are losing confidence in President Reagan's economic program and are taking a more critical look at his latest budget and tax proposals, according to Congressmen who provided him with his victories in economic battles last year. Congressmen in both parties generally agree that the President's program will be severely altered before it becomes law. Loss of confidence among voters mirrors a similar disillusionment with Reagan economic policies that appears to be growing in Congress. [New York Times] U.S. Catholic bishops strongly oppose the Reagan administration's policy on El Salvador. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops is toughening its stand against all forms of military to the Salvadoran government and is demanding a negotiated settlement with the anti-government guerrillas. The bishops' organization is among many other religious groups that oppose the administration's policy. Its vigorous stand signals a major turning point in the church's readiness to criticize United States foreign policy. [New York Times] The State and Defense Departments are divided over what to do about Western sanctions against Moscow in response to the Polish crackdown. Both sides have agreed to submit the matter to President Reagan. The debate has delayed the departure for Europe of a team headed by James Buckley, Undersecretary of State for Security Assistance, to discuss sanctions with the allies. [New York Times] A gas attack on a Soviet train was used last month to rob four Japanese experts in the industrial application of nuclear energy. Some diplomats in Moscow believe the robbery may have overtones of industrial espionage. The Japanese Embassy in Moscow says officially that it accepts the Soviet version of the incident that it was a robbery unconnected with espionage. The police reportedly arrested two suspects. [New York Times] A major Syrian city is besieged. Government tanks are leveling vast areas of Hama, Syria's fifth largest city, in a battle against rebels who are led by Moslem fundamentalists. Thousands of people are believed by diplomats in Damascus to have been killed and wounded in the fighting, which began three weeks ago. [New York Times]