The Times is the first British newspaper to gain access to Camp Freedom, headquarters of the Free Iraqi Forces (FIF), whom the US Army is training to administer a post-Saddam Iraq.

FIF soldiers range in age from 18 to 60. Some have military experience, in guerrilla movements or the Iraqi Army. Drawn from a cross-section of the Iraqi opposition, they include Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. The aim is to send them back to their home towns and cities where they will be able to guide Allied forces once Iraq has been captured, Many, like Hakim, have not seen their family for decades. A former oil business executive in his early fifties, Hakim fled from Iraq more than 30 years ago when the regime launched a campaign against the country’s Shia minority.

After living in the Gulf states, he made his way to the United States.

“I have no idea whether my family in Iraq is still alive. My mother had many children and she told me to flee, so that at least one would survive.

“Our mission is to help to liberate Iraq. I plan to stay on afterwards, and build a country where people have dignity and equality,” he said.

“Iraq was the cradle of civilisation, a place of tolerance where different cultures and religions lived together. Now there is fear in every Iraqi soul. Saddam is destroying one of the world’s cultural treasures that stretches back to the time of Abraham.

“Saddam does not just affect Iraq, but the whole of the Middle East and the rest of the world. Iraq has whatever resources it needs to meet the needs of the people there, but we never had the chance. I just pray to God that liberation will come true.”

Hungary has given permission for up to 3,000 trainees to pass through Camp Freedom. The first batch of several dozen have almost completed their four-week course. The first stage covers the military skills necessary to survive on the battlefield: self-defence, pistol marksmanship, navigation and teamwork development. The second focuses on civilian-military operations.

Classes are taught in English, and simultaneously translated into Arabic.

Colonel Stephen Yackley, the camp’s commander, said: “Their role will be one of liaison between the military and the civilian population. They will work on resource control, providing humanitarian assistance and emergency services.”

Housed in wooden huts, trainees are issued US Army uniforms with FIF shoulder patches. Their day begins at 5.30am and ends at 10.00pm, including five prayer breaks. They are allowed to write letters to their families and can watch satellite television, although they do not have access to the telephone, internet or the Arab station al-Jazeera.

The mess provides halal food or dishes such as barbequed chicken and hamburgers.

Mohammed, also in his early fifties, is a former member of the Iranian-backed Islamic Mujahidin. “I have been working to liberate Iraq for 30 years. I had to leave my wife and daughter behind in the United States, but I have a mission that is more important. They understand and they support me. The Iraqi people are waiting for this moment, to get rid of Saddam.”

The anti-war demonstrators in Europe would not take to the streets if they knew the truth about Saddam’s regime, he said.

“In 1991 Saddam killed 500,000 people when they rose against him. Nobody demonstrated against him then. But now the United States wants to get rid of the dictator, people are demonstrating against it.”

Outside Taszár, however, there is a growing rift between Iraqi opposition leaders and the US Administration. There are fears that just as in post-Milosevic Serbia, significant elements of the army, intelligence and security forces would be allowed to survive the transition in exchange for withdrawing their support for the dictatorship. Many of Saddam’s former officials would then be used by the US to administer a new regime.

Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress, has protested against America’s plans to set up a US-led civil administration working alongside the military, for around 18 months, until power is handed over. Critics say that the FIF may become a fig-leaf for long-term US ambitions to take control of the region’s natural resources.

For Hakim and Mohammad, these are questions for the politicians. They only dream of returning home to a free country.

“I became very emotional when I heard about this opportunity. It was like a dream come true,” said Hakim.

“I drew up my will and left everything to my wife and children. I hope they will join me when we liberate Iraq. That day will be the greatest emotion I can imagine.

“Iraq is our home, the problem is ours, the decision is ours and the mission is ours.”

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