Corner Pocket
Pool halls and bars are making a comeback in central Baghdad. Citing new security gains, Iraqi men, young and old, say they feel comfortable going out and socializing until late at night. Beer and dominos — two things frowned upon by Islamists — have quickly become ubiquitous in the city, as strengthened Iraqi security forces crack down on Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq, and fundamentalist Shiite militias.

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