THE Fallujans cluster together on the steps of the desert training centre, leaning forward conspiratorially. “I am ready to sacrifice myself for Iraq against the Americans,” says one. “Iraq will only settle if the Baath party is revived.”

Around him a gaggle of Sunni faces nod in agreement. “Attacks on the American Army are attacks of resistance,” another says. “But attacks on Iraqi civilians are terrorism.”

Then the Iraqi police cadets head back up the steps into the anti-terrorism training classrooms, where their instructors are waiting to restart lessons. This is not an insurgency training camp but the Jordan International Police Training Centre near Amman where serving Iraqi police are being taught by instructors from 16 countries.

The sentiments are a minority view among the 3,000 Iraqi trainees scattered around the 420-acre site. But they are prevalent enough among cadets from Fallujah, Diyala, Tikrit, and Babel to highlight the problems facing US commanders whose exit strategy depends on handing over to Iraqi security forces. “As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down,” President Bush said on Tuesday night, while denying that he had set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

With most of the recruits there is no reason to doubt their sincerity. On the parade ground they proclaim the oath “to protect souls and property”, and when they return to Iraq after eight weeks of lessons in human rights, crime, patrol duties, anti-terrorism and firearms they accept that they will face the daily risk of suicide bombers.

“We want a new democratic Iraq,” said Iyad, from Nasiriya. “I want to fight terror and build up my country.”

But among Sunnis there appears to be little reconciliation with US forces or Shias in government. Divided loyalty is not the only challenge facing the 300 instructors. Within the base’s perimeter British accents can alternately be heard shouting, “mumtaz” (excellent) or, “You’re dead”, as exercises go well or badly. Although the facilities are spotless and a new gym has been installed, morale does not appear high — among cadets or instructors.

Three weeks ago 200 Iraqi cadets rioted, smashing windows and overturning cars in protest at conditions and rumours that cadets who drop out are sent back to Iraq by road, risking death from insurgents waiting to ambush them. The disturbances were quelled but grievances persist. More seriously, instructors admit that until three months ago the centre’s classroom-based training was wholly unsuited to the violence of Iraq.

Although instructors say that it has improved since April, they still complain of a lack of direction from Baghdad.

Ali Mackenzie, a Lothian and Borders policeman, said: “In my opinion there should be a lot more input from Iraq, especially the military. You get a lot of good quality policemen coming here and it is limited by funding. We have to pretend that rubbish bins are cars. It doesn’t take much to mock up a couple of homes or streets to do realistic searches.”

Charles Riordan, a retired inspector from Northern Ireland, questioned the need for community police training for police working in cities, “where simply to show themselves on the street leaves them open to ambush”, and was incredulous that despite huge losses of police to roadside bombs there is still no training ground to rehearse life-saving drills.

“There is just a lack of specific clarity on how to train these guys comprehensively,” he said. “It’s very frustrating. I would hate to think that lives are being lost.”

However, Chief Inspector John Whittaker, the centre’s Chief of Staff, points out that it is unrealistic to expect a national security strategy to emerge instantly. He said: “I have a clear understanding of where we need to go to and that’s to teach and train democratic policing. Iraq is fairly chaotic in many places and we have to recognise that we are not going to get the same clarity that we have in stable societies.”

The emphasis, he said, would remain on counterterrorism while “planting the seeds” of community policing. “When I see students from our first and second intake coming back as instructors, that tells me we are doing something right.”

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