The United States condemned the two terrorist bombings that killed 10 people in the International Zone (Green Zone) of Baghdad October 14.
"We ... condemn these terrorist attacks," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher in Washington October 14.
"I do want to emphasize our sympathy and our determination to keep going," he added. "And just as the Iraqis have persevered, we intend to persevere, and we intend to overcome these difficulties and help Iraqis attain their goals."

The bombs killed four Americans and six Iraqis, Boucher said.
The International Zone (formerly known as the Green Zone) is the heavily guarded area of closed-off streets in central Baghdad where U.S. and coalition officials and contractors live and work. The Green Zone includes the main palaces of former President Saddam Hussein.

Q: Well, with the awful thing that happened in Baghdad -- indeed, this apparently was the first penetration of this highly fortified area. Does this say something about several things -- about security measures. Do they have to be reviewed? Does it say something about the war on terror? The secretary said last night terrorists were finding it harder and harder to find places to hide, although he said Iraq is a tough case. I guess terrorists found a way to get into the compound now. That's pretty shocking isn't it?

MR. BOUCHER: As you describe it, it's an awful event in Baghdad. It's very difficult for the people who are serving there, and certainly we offer our sympathies to the families of the victims of the attacks and our condolences to the families of people who died. I'll give you a run-down on that in a minute.

We also condemn these terrorist attacks. There's an effort that we are making to try to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country, and it's another example of where there are terrorists who want to attack, the Iraqis who want to attack us and want to attack anybody who's trying to establish opportunity and freedom for the Iraqi people. We know that's the situation. There are people who go out or know that they're serving in dangerous circumstances, but it's obviously very sad and unfortunate when something happens to them, or frankly, when something happens to the Iraqis who we are working with us in the Green Zone and elsewhere in the country.

It's not the first time that there have been attacks on the Green Zone. Most of the previous attacks have been mortars and things like that. You'll also remember it's not -- that there was a explosive device that was found in the so-called Green Zone Cafe not too long ago as well. So the kind of explosion and damage is new, but it's not the first time that that had -- that that kind of attack had been carried out or that people had tried to attack the Green Zone, because that is where a lot of this activity related to Iraqi reconstruction is going on.

What we know at this point. There were two explosions inside the Green Zone, the international zone today. One occurred in a place called vendors alley, which is close to the U.S. embassy and acts as the place where people sell souvenirs, handicrafts and other things. The other took place is what known as the Green Zone Cafe. The -- I don't have details yet of the explosions, exactly how they occurred, whether suicide bombers of explosive devices.

Embassy personnel at this point have been instructed to remain inside the embassy complex until further notice. An investigation is under way, and security sweeps are occurring in the area. Our embassy in Baghdad reports that four American citizen contractors, members of our security team, were killed in the vendors alley attack. Another contractor was seriously wounded there. Embassy officials are working to determine if there are other private American citizens sustained -- who have sustained injuries in that attack. Two State Department direct-hire employees were injured in vendors alley, but their injuries are not life-threatening. We also understand that there are Iraqis who were injured in that attack at vendors alley.

In terms of the explosion at the Green Zone Cafe, there were several U.S. embassy and foreign service national employees who sustained minor injuries in that attack. They received or are receiving medical treatment now. One U.S. citizen contractor, again, a member of our security team, was injured in this attack, and at least six Iraqis were killed and a number of others wounded in the attack on the cafe.

I won't give you any more details on the people killed and wounded at this moment. We're still in the process of making sure that their companies and families know and understand what happened.

I do want to emphasize our sympathy and our determination to keep going; that we all know that the work of reconstruction in Iraq is dangerous, that there are some very nasty people who have no respect for human right -- human life, no respect for the Iraqi people, no respect for the efforts that we're all making to help the Iraqi people, who are out to attack us and the Iraqis and others.

And just as the Iraqis have persevered, we intend to persevere, and we intend to overcome these difficulties and help Iraqis attain their goals.

Q: On the review issue, obviously you've got to be looking at things, again, but does this call for -- it may be too early, but does this call for an overhaul, some --

MR. BOUCHER: I think it's much too early to start speculating on that until one knows a little more about, you know, how these attacks occurred, how they got in. I'm sure every time there's an incident like this, we automatically look for what we can do to improve security for everybody who lives and works in these areas. And I'm sure the embassy will be doing that, along with the military and others who have security responsibilities for that area. But it's premature to start speculating about what kind of changes might be necessary, whether they're major or minor.

Q: And the Zarqawi claims, Zarqawi group --

MR. BOUCHER: We've seen the claim. I don't think I have any evidence to say one way or the other for sure that it is that group.

Q: Richard, can I just go to -- you said that the total in the two attacks -- four U.S. citizens killed and three wounded --

MR. BOUCHER: And six -- four U.S. citizens killed and six Iraqis killed in the two attacks. The number of injured is -- well, there was one person seriously injured at vendors' alley and another contractor who was injured at the Green Zone Cafe. And then in addition to that, there were several embassy employees -- two at vendors' alley and several more at the Green Zone, who had minor injuries that are being treated.

Q: Okay. But you don't have a number for --

MR. BOUCHER: And I don't have a number for Iraqis who were wounded either.

Q: Okay.

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

Q: So --

Q: May I follow on this subject?

Q: (Off mike.)

MR. BOUCHER: On this?

Q: Yes. Bret Stephens, who is the editor in chief of the Jerusalem Post, wrote an op-ed today in The Wall Street Journal. He said just implicitly that maybe the United States is not learning the lessons from Israel in fighting a widespread insurgency.

Could you tell us if there is any kind of cooperation, coordination between the two and --

MR. BOUCHER: No, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to do that. I don't have anything on that.