President Bush says the brutal policies of Saddam Hussein are to blame for the current sectarian division in Iraq.
Speaking in Washington Wednesday, Mr. Bush said the former Iraqi leader exacerbated sectarian divisions to keep himself in power, and brutally repressed communities, pitting one against the other.
Mr. Bush spoke at the Freedom House, an independent group that promotes democracy and freedom around the world. Mr. Bush said the people of Iraq are physically and emotionally scarred by three decades of Saddam's tyranny.
He also said the United States has made it abundantly clear to Syria and Iran that they should not interfere in Iraq's democratic process.
Mr. Bush vowed to keep American troops in Iraq until the mission is complete, saying the security of the United States depends on it.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.