Iraq's Brian Piccolo

In the Iraqi elections, U.S.-backed candidate Allawi finishes a distant third.

Here's an analysis from the editorial pages of Lebanon's Daily Star, the most important English-language paper in the area. (Note: Reason Contributing Editor Michael Young is editor of the Star's commentary section.)

right now is the time for the newly dominant Shiites to begin reconciliation with their Sunni countrymen. In fact, another way of looking at the United Iraqi Alliance's victory is that it now shoulders 47 percent of the political responsibility for Iraq's future. Among other measures, this means that every effort must be made for the full participation of Sunnis in the next national elections. This may necessitate a higher public profile on the part of Ayatollah Sistani—he may have a crucial role to play in fostering both confidence in and comfort with a Shiite-dominated government on the part of the country's minorities.

Whole thing here.