He's military.

He's a leader.

He's reliable (for the moment).

He's against the Taliban (again, for the moment).

He, and his people, are very usable.

That we need to dirty our hands to achieve peace in this area of traitorous loyalties is a given. We shall support the enemies of our enemies so long as they remain the enemies of our enemies.

At the fall of the Taliban, a new government shall be discussed. The Northern Alliance will not like the government chosen for the new Afghanistan, because it will be democratic, and therefore limit their power and potential income (on a personal level). The bullies of the world will need to learn that we are all in this together.

Should the Northern Alliance show anger at the "unexpected" turn of events, we will still have them where we can find them and they will be whittled down in political stature. Bear in mind, though, that this will not be an easy task. These privateering bullies are neither idiots, nor fools. If they have not thought of the future the U.S. holds for Afghanistan, they soon will, and they will prepare to hold that which they can.

In the end, a lot more blood will remain to be spilled,
Dan