Hookahs are a big seller this holiday season in the Green Zone

http://www.lawksalih.com/php/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1998

Iraq: Green Zone's captive market good for vendors

BAGHDAD — Mehdi Mohammed's antiques business has never been better.

On a good day, he sells more than $1,000 worth of carpets, gold jewelry, ornate copper bowls and brass vases.

His success is thanks to a customer base with disposable cash and few opportunities to spend it. Mohammed, 45, is one of several dozen Iraqi vendors who run souvenir shops inside Baghdad's Green Zone.

The Green Zone is a 4-square mile, heavily fortified compound that is home to about 5,000 troops, American diplomats and civilian contractors. About 10,000 Iraqis live inside the area. It's a city-within-a-city, complete with restaurants, cafes and cinemas. snip

"Sales are up right now because everyone is buying Christmas gifts for their children and families," says Sinheir, whose stall sells humorous stickers, patches and worthless currency notes from the Saddam Hussein era.

His most popular item is a $15 beach towel that reads, "Caution: Stay 100 meters back or you will be shot" in English and Arabic. It's a parody of a sign often posted on U.S. military vehicles and warns that "deadly force is authorized" if orders to keep a distance are not followed.

Abbas Subhi, who runs a tobacco and trinket shop in the bazaar, says his most popular items are hookahs, tea sets and antiques — "anything related to Iraqi culture."

might have more to do with American culture...

Cuz I use mine for tobacco :)

My daughter has attended Hookah parties (and many she didn't) and all were tobacco.

Lebanese hash is plentiful in the Green Zone--those who are used to bong rips stateside would probably prefer the hookah to the other options, which would be either some kind of homemade pipe or a European-style joint with hash and tobacco.

I still use mine for tobacco :)

from me holding my cigarette over it when I spark.

Never smoked weed through one.

Here in California there are a lot of great strip-mall Middle Eastern restaurants where you can rent a hookah--a very relaxing custom IMO.

Wonder if he ships?

Http://www.hookah-shisha.com

Good selection, and good service. I got mine there and I'm quite pleased with it.

Let's try it again:
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/

ha