Syria’s president said Thursday that his nation was essential to a stable Iraq, rejecting U.S. accusations that Damascus has not tried to stop the infiltration of terrorists across its border to fight coalition forces. President Bashar Assad also said in an interview on Britain’s Sky News that the only way forward in Iraq was for American forces to immediately leave, dismissing the argument their departure would deepen the sectarian strife. “Iraq is on the brink of civil war, what could be worse?” he said. Full Story