October 1, 2001
Special Forces in Afghanistan
Special armed forces, a combination of British SAS and American secret
military commandos, are now in Afghanistan in hot pursuit of Osama Bin Laden
and his network of terrorist cells, President Bush said last Friday. This new
kind of war, the president hinted, will involve special operation units
rather than conventional troop deployments.
The astrological factors behind the likelihood that President Bush would
become militarily involved in Afghanistan were first described in NewsScope
seven months ago (see March 5, 2001). Over the next few days Mars and Jupiter
are opposing each other (exact on October 3), and these two planets when
combined frequently lead to dramatic action.
The regional Islamic clergy chose Mullah Mohammad Omar to be the Taliban's
supreme military commander on April 3, 1996, and a chart for this date (set
for noon, Kabul) can be used to describe the current regime that is harboring
Bin Laden. The Mars-Jupiter opposition forms a tense T-square with the
Taliban's Aries Sun. This should bring divisive conflict within the Taliban,
or direct attack from enemies.
The ultra secret Delta Force military team was created on November 19, 1977
(set for noon, Ft. Bragg, NC) as a special unit to combat terrorism and
rescue hostages. This horoscope features a courageous, can-do Mars in Leo
squaring Uranus, a combination that hungers for dangerous assignments. The
impending Mars-Jupiter opposition hits the Delta Force Mars-Uranus square,
indicating some bold action is in the game plan.
The Future of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is now verging on one of the worst humanitarian crises in history
with perhaps 5 million refugees facing starvation and disease. As the Taliban
government loses control of the country, the United Nations, the U.S., and
other interests are already at work in creating a post-Taliban reconstruction
government.
Afghanistan's former king Mohammad Zahir Shah (October 15, 1914; Kabul; time
unknown), now living in seclusion in an Italian villa, is rapidly becoming
the first choice to lead a transitional government after the Taliban
collapses. With a Libra Sun, political strategists see him as a natural
mediator between Afghanistan's warring ethnic groups. His 40-year reign was
characterized by diplomatic neutrality between the Soviet Union and the
United States.
He also has several planets in Aquarius, including an enhancing trine to
kindly, fatherly Ceres. He remains the most prominent figure in the minds and
souls of the Afghan people. His Aquarian placements include a broad-minded
Jupiter, now being activated by transiting Saturn and Pluto, which has led
the king to call for a national assembly to decide his country's future.
With a natal Saturn-Pluto conjunction, he is well versed in the process of
traumatic political endings and reconstructions. Zahir Shah was deposed in a
palace coup on July 17, 1973 as transiting Pluto squared his natal
Saturn-Pluto. Also at that time transiting Uranus was conjunct his Sun, a
natural indicator of the sudden disruption of personal power. Now that
transiting Uranus is forming a favorable trine to his Sun, he has become the
right person at the right time for Afghanistan and the world.
Michael Jordan Returns
Michael Jordan, widely considered the most electrifying and popular
basketball player ever, announced last week that he is coming out of
retirement to play for the Washington Wizards. Jordan's comeback was treated
with derision by some sports commentators who feel at 38 he's past his prime,
while others say he will bring plenty of excitement (and extra cash) to the
game.
Michel Jordan was born with his Sun in the team player sign of Aquarius
(February 17, 1963; 10:20 am; Brooklyn, NY) but with his Mars in the
superstar sign of Leo. Playing with his team didn't come quickly for the
talented Jordan since he also has slow-to-learn Saturn in Aquarius as well,
opposite his "me-first" Mars. When he finally did find the balance, he led
the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles.
One of the attributes that makes Jordan such an excellent player is his
unpredictable moves. Uranus, the planet of sudden and unpredictable
change-ups, is the ruler of his Midheaven (the career point) and is found in
the fifth house of sports. Uranus is further accented by its opposition to
the Sun, square to the Moon, and close inconjunction (150 degree angle) to
Mercury at the Midheaven.
On October 30 Jordan plays his first game as a Wizard against the New York
Knicks at Madison Square Gardens. On that day transiting Mars, the natural
ruler of competitive sports, will be exactly conjunct his Mercury, activating
the underlying electricity of his Mercury-Uranus combination. For a city
deeply wounded by recent events, Jordan's comeback represents a heroic return
to normal pleasures.
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