Hot Docs: How Soon a Withdrawal From Iraq?, Escapist Halloween Spending

Uncertainty in U.S. Troop Withdrawal Timelines: Hard deadlines for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq remain a risky and uncertain business, concludes a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The study, "How Soon is Safe? Iraqi Force Development and Conditions-Based U.S. Withdrawals," delves into the capabilities of Iraqi forces and the country's political stability. It finds that if all goes well, withdrawal deadlines like 2011 "may still prove practical." However, it sees a need for a "stabilizing U.S. military presence for at least several years to come" and for a "substantial U.S. military advisory effort for several years longer."

Hiding Out on Halloween: Forget the scary economy. A retail trade association predicts that Americans are going to dump nearly $6 billion on Halloween this year. According to the National Retail Federation, more consumers plan to celebrate the holiday and spend more money than last year. The Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey found that consumers will spend about $24 on Halloween costumes, $20 on candy, and $18 on decorations. NRF President Tracy Mullin says that consumers "may be looking at Halloween as an opportunity to forget the stresses of daily life."

Ethanol Makers Question Link Between High Food Prices and Biofuels: A new study questions the link between the increased production of biofuels and rising food prices. The study by the Renewable Fuels Association, the trade association of the ethanol industry, seeks to refute claims that increased use of biofuels was driving up food costs. The study notes that despite dramatic decreases in the costs of grain and oilseed—as much as 50 percent since peaks in March and June —"food prices have remained at elevated levels."