One common assumption by people with political leanings that are generally close to my own is that the US media will, by default, gloss over the brutal histories of much of the Northern Alliance leadership because they’re now considered US allies. Fortunately, that has not proven to be the case. The New York Times has an article today that discusses the return to power of many of the same characters who ripped Afghanistan apart before the Taliban came to power. I believe that despite the fact that the factions that make up the Northern Alliance were awful last time they were in power, they can help to build a better government this time. At the same time, unless we remain aware of their past behavior and watch for signs of it in the future, Afghanistan very well might repeat its awful history.