Blair wanted Assad to work with MI6 against Jolani

Syrian dictator was seen by Tony Blair as a potential bulwark against terrorists entering Iraq, newly declassified files confirm.
Senior MI6 officials wanted help from Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to stop terrorists entering Iraq in 2004, it has emerged.
US troops were coming under attack from foreign fighters with links to Al Qaeda, which had gained a foothold there following the fall of Saddam Hussein.