Quickhits - World conflicts/Islamic militias edition.

(Reuters) Nicholas Burns says the Taleban are not a "strategic threat" and schedules "senior level talks" with Afghanistan next year. (Next year?)

Meanwhile, (AFP) the NATO commander in Afghanistan says he does not have enough troops to win. (How similar does this sound to the statements out of Iraq recently? Not enough troops to win the battle, so tread water and hope for the politics to work out quickly.)

(AFP) "Pakistani troops have sealed off a troubled frontier zone amid a third day of tensions over a deadly air raid on an Islamic school."

(Reuters) Somalia Peace Talks Headed for Collapse.

(Reuters) "Israeli warplanes flew at a low altitude over Beirut, its suburbs and large areas of south Lebanon on Tuesday, witnesses and Lebanese security sources said." The EU tells them they're not helping.