BRONWYN ADCOCK : In southern Hungary, about 200km from Budapest, lies the small village of Taszar. This sleepy town has been home to largely secret preparations for the US invasion of Iraq. For the past few months, at an air base leased to the American military, Iraqi exiles have been training behind these heavily guarded walls. Security here is intense, even filming in the village away from the base draws the attention of local police. Just what the Iraqi recruits are being trained for has raised many questions.
ADCOCK (Question) : Do you expect them to see any conflict?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN, US TRAINING TASK FORCE : What do you mean?
ADCOCK (Question) : Well, do you expect them to see any fighting, for example?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Well, you know, we're training them on self-defence, and in the event they find themselves in a dangerous situation, we're teaching them how to protect themselves, and it's only fair and it's right that we do that.
ADCOCK (Question) : Will they carry weapons?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Yes, they'll be carrying a 9mm handgun, only for self-defence.
TAMAS TOTH, HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY : When the Hungarian Government said 'yes', said 'yes' with some conditions, and one of the conditions was that those people trained ah, ah, at the Iraq base can not, may not be directly involved in, ah, military conflict and we are hoping very much that the American authorities are going to respect this condition.
ADCOCK : Andrash Mihalecz manages a cattle farm just down the road from the base. Like many locals, he's worried about his new neighbours.
ANDRASH MIHALECZ, FARMER (Translation): We had absolutely no idea about their coming here. This filled me and others with concern. And even those who don't live here, who live elsewhere in Hungary.
ADCOCK : Andrash is fearful that the Iraqi presence represents a security risk, and says the uncertainty has set the town on edge.
ANDRASH MIHALECZ (Translation): The training itself and what we are told about it gives rise to speculation, because the justified questions of the people are not clearly answered. So when people don't get the right answers they start to speculate. And maybe everyone is on the wrong track. Maybe the risk isn't as big as we think, but please tell us so.
ADCOCK : Andrash was the main organiser of a local anti-war demonstration last month. This protest was also against the training of Iraqi exiles. Residents are suspicious of all the secrecy surrounding activities at the base. According to the local mayor, contradictory reports have heightened residents' concerns.
KAROLY SZITA, MAYOR OF KAPOSVAR (Translation): In December 2002, we read in the American Internet newspapers that Iraqi terrorist combat units would be trained here. Then the Hungarian Government said that interpreters would be trained here. New reports are saying Iraqi opposition are being trained for public administration tasks. Other news is that it's only classroom lessons. Other reports are coming in that there is training at the base in the use of firearms, handguns. We are very confused, we don't know what to believe.
ADCOCK : The deal to host the training came out of a meeting between the Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgessgy and US President George W. Bush in Washington last November. During this meeting, the US requested use of the base for the training and the Hungarian Government readily agreed.
TAMAS TOTH : Hungary was considered as a not very fulfilling ally. Some critical remarks have been arriving as far as the implementation of international duties of the Hungarian Government and when the new government took office in May last year this government decided to show that Hungary is a reliable ally.
JANET GARVEY, CHIEF OF MISSION, US EMBASSY BUDAPEST : Well, obviously we're very gratified that the Hungarians were willing to take on a program which really was, in many ways, an experiment.
ADCOCK : This American experiment caused major ructions in the Hungarian parliament, with the opposition outraged at the deal. Istvan Simicsko is the chairman of the Opposition's defence committee.
ISTVAN SIMICSKO, CHAIRMAN, OPPOSITION DEFENCE COMMITTEE (Translation) : Seeing as NATO is not unified on this question, it's not good for us to offer everything in a servile way and align ourselves with the biggest superpower.
ADCOCK : The opposition thinks that, like many central European countries, Hungary offered too much too quickly.
ISTVAN SIMICSKO (Translation) : There was a competition, a pledging competition as to who could offer the most help to the United States. There's an upward spiral of offers, which is unfortunate in any circumstances.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : We have invited you to talk about a joint Hungarian and United States cooperative effort.
ADCOCK : In a public relations stunt, the media has been invited to Taszar base for a demonstration of police and military working dogs.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : On my right is Deggy Sandor and his dog Freddy from the Kaposvar Police Department.
ADCOCK : Not surprisingly, the local media is more interested in filming the base itself - it's a rare opportunity to get this close. Not much is known about the Iraqis inside - they're never allowed to leave the base. We do know they were recruited in Europe and North America by Iraqi opposition groups. Once recruited, their names were then vetted by the US Government. Dateline has obtained a copy of an application form for the program - amongst other things it asks: "Have you been involved in war crimes?" and: "Have you made any anti-American statements?"
MAJOR ROBERT STERN: All of the volunteers come from around the world. They left their jobs, their homes and their families to participate in this training program, and, ah, but they all have one common dream and vision, and that's for a free and democratic Iraq.
ADCOCK (Question) : Do any of them want revenge?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : No, no, the...
ADCOCK (Question) : How can you be sure of that?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Well, the...you know, that's a good question, but, you know, the volunteers have all come here in their quest for a free and democratic Iraq. We have Kurds, we have Sunnis, we have Shi'ites, that are here participating in the program.
ADCOCK : The US Government has released this footage from inside the base, as well as interviews with some of the recruits.
RECRUIT #1 : I am coming from California. I've been living in the US for 25 years, I have my own business, I have two beautiful kids, and I live very comfortably, but I couldn't live in peace as long as Saddam Hussein is ruling Iraq. For example, in a room, in a dark room, you need one candle to light the whole room up. That's how I looked at it. I'm one of the candles that have to light my own self, so my people can see what's in the room.
ADCOCK : As part of the conditions for leasing the base, the Hungarian Government laid down a number of requirements for the training program - the primary one being that the Iraqis not be directly involved in military conflict. (Question) When you say you're hoping they're not involved in the conflict, what do you mean - that they should not arrive until after the war is over?
TAMAS TOTH : No, when I say conflict, conflict means that there are two sides with guns and they are shooting at each other, so we asked Americans not to do that, they promised and we hope that those people - should there be a military conflict again - they are not going to participate in that. After the conflict I think they will have their role.
ADCOCK : According to the US military, the Iraqis will be used in a so called "civil military role", liaising between the army and relief agencies.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : So let's say there's a town in need, they have displaced citizens that have come into their area. They will let the humanitarian relief organisations know, Here's where there's a need, here's where some people need help, and make sure that they get the help.
ADCOCK : Dateline has been told however, that the trainees will be doing a lot more than this. Hussein Daood is a member of the Iraqi opposition in Hungary. He and fellow Iraqis meet in this cafe in Budapest. He says that not only will a group of trainees be going in with the first troops, but they will be directly involved in fomenting an uprising.
HUSSEIN DAOOD, IRAQI OPPOSITION : The first group will have the task to make the links and the communication between the USA and the UK troops and the Iraqi people, especially at the beginning of the military interventions, when the great need will be for the Iraqis to direct or to arrange the uprising of the Iraqi people, which is very expected after the war breaks out.
ADCOCK : Hussein Daood also says the trainees will have a role in directing and managing groups of surrendered Iraqi Republican Guards. He says this information comes from those in charge of running the war.
HUSSEIN DAOOD : All the information we received from the Iraqi opposition who has the connections, the daily connections with the United States and United Kingdom.
ADCOCK : Dateline has independently verified this information with Iraqi opposition groups in Washington and London. They say the role of the trainees is much more than humanitarian, and they will be working to encourage uprisings. This is denied by the US Embassy in Budapest.
JANET GARVEY : They're not being trained to be any kind of vanguard. They're really there to support the aftermath of military conflict and to help support communities get back on their feet again.
ADCOCK : If the trainees do participate in the conflict, it will a clear breach of the understanding between the Hungarian and American governments. There will be little, however, that Hungary can do about this.
SEBASTYEN GORKA, POLITICAL ANALYST : There is no way to enforce that. What is Hungary going to do if a couple of these people pop up in the theatre of operations during the conflict? They've already been trained. Taszar has already been given over, so if America wanted to it could breach this and Hungary would be in a very weak position to do anything about it. It could send a delegation, a harshly worded telegram to the State Department, but that's about it really.
ADCOCK : Despite all the contradictions, suspicion and concern surrounding the base, at the end of last month the first group of around 60 trainees graduated from so-called 'Camp Freedom'. They received this certificate: "TASK FORCE WARRIOR: You represent people everywhere who desire to live in a world that is free of tyranny and persecution and are willing to sacrifice personal comfort to achieve freedom for all." They were flown out of Hungary to a destination unknown, described by the US military only as "somewhere in South West Asia".
RECRUIT #1 : I would like to dedicate this day, which is my graduation day to my family in Iraq, especially my mum and dad, who passed away during my exile years and I dedicate to all Iraqi people and I tell them, "Hang in there - we're coming", and we're hopefully going to save them from this tyrant.
ADCOCK : As the war continues, it remains to be seen what role the Iraqi exiles will play. Some warn though that America should be careful with its new recruits.
SEBASTYEN GORKA : There can often be a blow-back to these operations, because after you train these people in what are unusual skills, let's put it mildly, you don't have control of them afterwards when they go back to their home country, so it's difficult to guarantee yourself against this being a perfect operation in the long term.
ADCOCK : And the next intake in the school for Iraqi exiles has just begun.
ADCOCK (Question) : Do you expect them to see any conflict?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN, US TRAINING TASK FORCE : What do you mean?
ADCOCK (Question) : Well, do you expect them to see any fighting, for example?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Well, you know, we're training them on self-defence, and in the event they find themselves in a dangerous situation, we're teaching them how to protect themselves, and it's only fair and it's right that we do that.
ADCOCK (Question) : Will they carry weapons?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Yes, they'll be carrying a 9mm handgun, only for self-defence.
TAMAS TOTH, HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY : When the Hungarian Government said 'yes', said 'yes' with some conditions, and one of the conditions was that those people trained ah, ah, at the Iraq base can not, may not be directly involved in, ah, military conflict and we are hoping very much that the American authorities are going to respect this condition.
ADCOCK : Andrash Mihalecz manages a cattle farm just down the road from the base. Like many locals, he's worried about his new neighbours.
ANDRASH MIHALECZ, FARMER (Translation): We had absolutely no idea about their coming here. This filled me and others with concern. And even those who don't live here, who live elsewhere in Hungary.
ADCOCK : Andrash is fearful that the Iraqi presence represents a security risk, and says the uncertainty has set the town on edge.
ANDRASH MIHALECZ (Translation): The training itself and what we are told about it gives rise to speculation, because the justified questions of the people are not clearly answered. So when people don't get the right answers they start to speculate. And maybe everyone is on the wrong track. Maybe the risk isn't as big as we think, but please tell us so.
ADCOCK : Andrash was the main organiser of a local anti-war demonstration last month. This protest was also against the training of Iraqi exiles. Residents are suspicious of all the secrecy surrounding activities at the base. According to the local mayor, contradictory reports have heightened residents' concerns.
KAROLY SZITA, MAYOR OF KAPOSVAR (Translation): In December 2002, we read in the American Internet newspapers that Iraqi terrorist combat units would be trained here. Then the Hungarian Government said that interpreters would be trained here. New reports are saying Iraqi opposition are being trained for public administration tasks. Other news is that it's only classroom lessons. Other reports are coming in that there is training at the base in the use of firearms, handguns. We are very confused, we don't know what to believe.
ADCOCK : The deal to host the training came out of a meeting between the Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgessgy and US President George W. Bush in Washington last November. During this meeting, the US requested use of the base for the training and the Hungarian Government readily agreed.
TAMAS TOTH : Hungary was considered as a not very fulfilling ally. Some critical remarks have been arriving as far as the implementation of international duties of the Hungarian Government and when the new government took office in May last year this government decided to show that Hungary is a reliable ally.
JANET GARVEY, CHIEF OF MISSION, US EMBASSY BUDAPEST : Well, obviously we're very gratified that the Hungarians were willing to take on a program which really was, in many ways, an experiment.
ADCOCK : This American experiment caused major ructions in the Hungarian parliament, with the opposition outraged at the deal. Istvan Simicsko is the chairman of the Opposition's defence committee.
ISTVAN SIMICSKO, CHAIRMAN, OPPOSITION DEFENCE COMMITTEE (Translation) : Seeing as NATO is not unified on this question, it's not good for us to offer everything in a servile way and align ourselves with the biggest superpower.
ADCOCK : The opposition thinks that, like many central European countries, Hungary offered too much too quickly.
ISTVAN SIMICSKO (Translation) : There was a competition, a pledging competition as to who could offer the most help to the United States. There's an upward spiral of offers, which is unfortunate in any circumstances.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : We have invited you to talk about a joint Hungarian and United States cooperative effort.
ADCOCK : In a public relations stunt, the media has been invited to Taszar base for a demonstration of police and military working dogs.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : On my right is Deggy Sandor and his dog Freddy from the Kaposvar Police Department.
ADCOCK : Not surprisingly, the local media is more interested in filming the base itself - it's a rare opportunity to get this close. Not much is known about the Iraqis inside - they're never allowed to leave the base. We do know they were recruited in Europe and North America by Iraqi opposition groups. Once recruited, their names were then vetted by the US Government. Dateline has obtained a copy of an application form for the program - amongst other things it asks: "Have you been involved in war crimes?" and: "Have you made any anti-American statements?"
MAJOR ROBERT STERN: All of the volunteers come from around the world. They left their jobs, their homes and their families to participate in this training program, and, ah, but they all have one common dream and vision, and that's for a free and democratic Iraq.
ADCOCK (Question) : Do any of them want revenge?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : No, no, the...
ADCOCK (Question) : How can you be sure of that?
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : Well, the...you know, that's a good question, but, you know, the volunteers have all come here in their quest for a free and democratic Iraq. We have Kurds, we have Sunnis, we have Shi'ites, that are here participating in the program.
ADCOCK : The US Government has released this footage from inside the base, as well as interviews with some of the recruits.
RECRUIT #1 : I am coming from California. I've been living in the US for 25 years, I have my own business, I have two beautiful kids, and I live very comfortably, but I couldn't live in peace as long as Saddam Hussein is ruling Iraq. For example, in a room, in a dark room, you need one candle to light the whole room up. That's how I looked at it. I'm one of the candles that have to light my own self, so my people can see what's in the room.
ADCOCK : As part of the conditions for leasing the base, the Hungarian Government laid down a number of requirements for the training program - the primary one being that the Iraqis not be directly involved in military conflict. (Question) When you say you're hoping they're not involved in the conflict, what do you mean - that they should not arrive until after the war is over?
TAMAS TOTH : No, when I say conflict, conflict means that there are two sides with guns and they are shooting at each other, so we asked Americans not to do that, they promised and we hope that those people - should there be a military conflict again - they are not going to participate in that. After the conflict I think they will have their role.
ADCOCK : According to the US military, the Iraqis will be used in a so called "civil military role", liaising between the army and relief agencies.
MAJOR ROBERT STERN : So let's say there's a town in need, they have displaced citizens that have come into their area. They will let the humanitarian relief organisations know, Here's where there's a need, here's where some people need help, and make sure that they get the help.
ADCOCK : Dateline has been told however, that the trainees will be doing a lot more than this. Hussein Daood is a member of the Iraqi opposition in Hungary. He and fellow Iraqis meet in this cafe in Budapest. He says that not only will a group of trainees be going in with the first troops, but they will be directly involved in fomenting an uprising.
HUSSEIN DAOOD, IRAQI OPPOSITION : The first group will have the task to make the links and the communication between the USA and the UK troops and the Iraqi people, especially at the beginning of the military interventions, when the great need will be for the Iraqis to direct or to arrange the uprising of the Iraqi people, which is very expected after the war breaks out.
ADCOCK : Hussein Daood also says the trainees will have a role in directing and managing groups of surrendered Iraqi Republican Guards. He says this information comes from those in charge of running the war.
HUSSEIN DAOOD : All the information we received from the Iraqi opposition who has the connections, the daily connections with the United States and United Kingdom.
ADCOCK : Dateline has independently verified this information with Iraqi opposition groups in Washington and London. They say the role of the trainees is much more than humanitarian, and they will be working to encourage uprisings. This is denied by the US Embassy in Budapest.
JANET GARVEY : They're not being trained to be any kind of vanguard. They're really there to support the aftermath of military conflict and to help support communities get back on their feet again.
ADCOCK : If the trainees do participate in the conflict, it will a clear breach of the understanding between the Hungarian and American governments. There will be little, however, that Hungary can do about this.
SEBASTYEN GORKA, POLITICAL ANALYST : There is no way to enforce that. What is Hungary going to do if a couple of these people pop up in the theatre of operations during the conflict? They've already been trained. Taszar has already been given over, so if America wanted to it could breach this and Hungary would be in a very weak position to do anything about it. It could send a delegation, a harshly worded telegram to the State Department, but that's about it really.
ADCOCK : Despite all the contradictions, suspicion and concern surrounding the base, at the end of last month the first group of around 60 trainees graduated from so-called 'Camp Freedom'. They received this certificate: "TASK FORCE WARRIOR: You represent people everywhere who desire to live in a world that is free of tyranny and persecution and are willing to sacrifice personal comfort to achieve freedom for all." They were flown out of Hungary to a destination unknown, described by the US military only as "somewhere in South West Asia".
RECRUIT #1 : I would like to dedicate this day, which is my graduation day to my family in Iraq, especially my mum and dad, who passed away during my exile years and I dedicate to all Iraqi people and I tell them, "Hang in there - we're coming", and we're hopefully going to save them from this tyrant.
ADCOCK : As the war continues, it remains to be seen what role the Iraqi exiles will play. Some warn though that America should be careful with its new recruits.
SEBASTYEN GORKA : There can often be a blow-back to these operations, because after you train these people in what are unusual skills, let's put it mildly, you don't have control of them afterwards when they go back to their home country, so it's difficult to guarantee yourself against this being a perfect operation in the long term.
ADCOCK : And the next intake in the school for Iraqi exiles has just begun.