![Tony Blair and George Bush forged a close alliance after 9/11 that led to accusations of Britain being a US 'poodle'. Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AOFY6PWUBJEE3NKACCO62ZFIH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=955d053a57ca7a8ac12abc32476cb6166f535aa426e65e245a2f2cee3f93ede5&width=400&height=225)
Tony Blair and George Bush forged a close alliance after 9/11 that led to accusations of Britain being a US 'poodle'. Getty Images
Tony Blair and George Bush forged a close alliance after 9/11 that led to accusations of Britain being a US 'poodle'. Getty ImagesPapers show Tony Blair believed Britain 'could not stand aside' from Iraq war
Newly declassified documents reveal the UK sought to weaken France and Germany's stance that conflict was a last resort