A U.S. program, designed, according to The Washington POst to "new small and medium-size businesses, building trust and spreading the wealth," is instead enriching those it was unintended to, the traditional power brokers in Afghanistan, while, according to The Post, having "created new ones."

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According to the report, the money that the U.S. is putting into Afghanistan "may have exacerbated some of the problems it set out to solve and is a major contributor to the corruption that has hobbled U.S. efforts." In other words, the U.S. is funding the opposition while the White House and Congress want to raise taxes on small business owners and those who still hold jobs.

So, here's where things stand. According to The Post: 'After eight years in Afghanistan and more than $50 billion spent, the United States still has no "no comprehensive database on reconstruction contracts" and no integrated system to track projects that are "completed, ongoing and planned," Special Inspector General Arnold Field told Congress in mid-July. President Obama has asked for an additional $20 billion in fiscal 2011.'

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For the fourth day running, the S & P 500 has been straddling the 1100 area, give or take a few points on either side, while exhibiting lots of intraday volatility and making it nearly impossible to trade this market.

The bottom line is that the 1115-1131 trading range remains as resistance, so the burden of proof is on the bulls.

We are turning a bit neutral here, and are adding or S & P short selling ETF back to the list, just in case things get crazier before the weekend.

We have added several new picks with outstanding technical characteristics. Consider them carefully before committing large sums in this market.

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