Tampa Tribune

Iraq War Protester On A ‘Mission Of Peace’

Marc J. Yacht MD, MPH

Published: Jul 27, 2007

Petite, unassuming and gentle, Bettejo Indelicato protests the Iraq war. She resides in a modest home tending bee hives and collecting honey.

Soft-spoken but strong-willed, she co-founded the Florida Peace Action Network and on early Friday mornings joins other members holding protest signs for passing motorists to see in New Port Richey.

Indelicato is not a typical protester; she went to Iraq before the bombs dropped. In a recent interview, she related how her initial opposition began when the United States imposed sanctions on the Iraqi people. The sanctions affected the quality of everyday life and caused great hardship and suffering. They had no impact on the notorious regime of Saddam Hussein.

She proceeded to write letters to the editor and Congress and joined street protests. She felt her actions had little or no impact, so she joined a Chicago group called Voices in the Wilderness.

“I wanted be a presence in Iraq and show the Iraqi people that not all Americans agreed with actions taken by the U.S. government,” she said. She readily agreed that Saddam was a “bad guy” but felt the Iraqi people managed well under his dictatorship.

“Iraq was no Third World country,” Indelicato says. “Iraq was recognized in the late 1980s for being very progressive. Women were given equal status. Iraq was secular. There was universal health coverage, and education was free through graduate studies. The U.S. invasion destroyed Iraq and took their world away. Saddam’s overthrow was not worth the aftermath.”

The Iraqi people, she says, had the responsibility to deal with their government - not the U.S. and its allies.

Time Of Mourning

When the bombing started, Indelicato and her group had rooms at the Al Fanar Hotel in Baghdad. Another group, the Christian Peacemakers, also stayed there. Indelicato recalls that a number of people were having tea early in the morning and had been warned the bombing would begin. It was suggested that if the bombing would start that day, it would occur at daybreak.

“That is exactly what happened. It was scary, and the Palestine Hotel, close to us, was hit,” she remembers, fighting back tears. “There was a bombing campaign and then the occupation.”

After Baghdad was occupied, Voices in the Wilderness decided it could no longer be effective in Iraq. Within six weeks, staff had exited the country, and Indelicato was driven to Amman, Jordan, along with some physicians from Doctors Without Borders, and flew home. She remembers being among the last to leave.

Indelicato admits people wanted to be rid of Saddam, but says nobody wanted the historic city bombed or the terrible loss of civilian life. Iraq is located on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and represents the most ancient civilization.

When she heard newscasters say that Iraqis were celebrating in the streets after the bombings, she was dumbstruck. “Iraqis were relieved the bombing had stopped, but so much had been lost. Everyone knew somebody that was maimed or killed. Iraqis were mourning, not celebrating,” she said.

Indelicato smiled and relayed that the Iraqis are great people. “I was always treated with honor. Whenever you did business in Iraq, before any discussions took place, tea was offered. Iraqis are a friendly, hospitable people. Although they felt our government’s policies were wrong, they showed great respect and kindness to Americans that resided in their city.”

As for the future, Indelicato offers that the Iraqi people will do what has to be done. However, she continued, along with civilian casualties came the destruction and loss of homes, electrical power infrastructure, garbage disposal and potable water. Also, artifacts and historical treasures collected for centuries were lost.

“The life Iraqis had known was destroyed and may never be the same.” Indelicato says, breathing deeply and collecting herself.

The Children Played

Our talk turned to American soldiers. Indelicato commented on their lack of cultural orientation to Iraqis. She claims that about half the soldiers she spoke to were against the war but doing their duty. “Many soldiers felt fear, for every Iraqi was a threat in their eyes,” she said.

On whether we should remain in Iraq, Indelicato stated: “We need to leave Iraq and give the country back to Iraqis. I believe in the Iraqi people, and our presence is prolonging their agony.”

Indelicato sat back. She lives in a double-wide mobile home in a rural part of Hernando County. She recalled an incident in Iraq that summed up many of her feelings about our presence. She spoke of being cooped up for weeks during the bombings. During a lull, friends gathered and decided to have a birthday party for an Iraqi teenage girl.

“There must have been 30 kids,” she said. “There was chicken and treats. Someone made a cake, and cups of Kool-Aid were placed on the table.”

The kids started jumping around, dancing and laughing. Then they heard bombs. The Kool-Aid rippled from the explosions, which were distant but close enough. They stopped their play and listened. After a time, they began to play again.

They had become used to the bombs. Children had been taught that bombing is the solution to conflict.

Indelicato supports our troops without reserve. “Which means,” she explained, “I support their immediate withdrawal. There is no winning or losing in this or any war. I would gladly support any effort to help Iraq but could not in good conscience spend one penny of my money to arm a soldier.”

She is on a mission of peace.

The writer, a physician, is a retired Pasco County Health Department director. He lives in Hudson.