December 30, 2001
Vajpayee Mobilizes for War
India's Prime Minister Vajpayee shunned several peace offerings from
Pakistan's President Musharraf over the last few days, saying that Pakistan
has not done enough to stop cross-border terrorism. Among other preparations
for war, Indian officials began wrapping the Taj Mahal in camouflage khaki, a
sure sign that the ongoing military build-up is deadly serious.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born with his Sun in the administrative sign of
Capricorn (December 25, 1924; 5:45 am; Gwalior, India*) and favored for
success with the conjunction to beneficial Jupiter. His 50 years of
government service attests to the power of this natal conjunction. Then, his
Sun-Jupiter squares Mars in the fourth house of domestic affairs. Mars here
is boldly and stridently attuned to protecting Indian culture and national
territory.
Sun-Jupiter-Mars can also be dangerously reckless, and an adventurer in
military affairs. This key planetary combination describes the personality
trait that led the Prime Minister into developing nuclear weapons and
resolutely challenging Pakistan. At the moment transiting Chiron is conjunct
his Sun, so that he absorbs the national feeling of being wounded, and
wanting to do something grand to atone for the sense of injustice.
The current state of high alert can easily be seen in this horoscope since he
has his Sagittarian Moon and Ascendant perfectly in line with the transiting
Saturn-Pluto opposition. Also, Vajpayee's Moon squares Uranus, making him an
unpredictable wildcard in international affairs. Over the next two months
transiting Pluto will be conjunct his Moon, and then square his Uranus,
compelling him to take radical action before elections in February.
Russia Becomes #2 Global Exporter of Oil
Argentina's dire economic problems spiraled out of control over the last two
weeks as rioting in the streets culminated last Thursday with President De la
Rua's resignation and dramatic exit via helicopter from the presidential
November's historic summit between President Bush and Russian President Putin
paved the way for a major geopolitical realignment between the former cold
war enemies. While the media focused on Russia's support for terrorism and
the disagreement over the National Missile Defense program, the hidden agenda
may well have been about oil.
Neptune, as the natural ruler of oil, was all over the place then. In Putin's
chart (set for October 7, 1952; 9:30 am; Petrograd), transiting Uranus was
trine his Neptune, located in his twelfth house of secret deals. Bush had
transiting Neptune near his seventh house cusp of partners, and trine his
natal Neptune.
Now, as Neptune moves by transit into key degree zones of their respective
country's national charts, it's becoming apparent what Bush and Putin
discussed regarding global oil strategies. Putin is presenting Russian oil as
an alternative source of energy to the unstable Middle East. Last week OPEC
(led by Saudi Arabia) attempted to shore up the falling price of oil by
cutting production, but Russia is keeping its oil spigots open, and the price
down.
Besides bolstering the U.S. economy, the oil alliance between Bush and Putin
may play a pivotal role in Iraq. If Bush decides to invade Iraq, it may
induce Russian acquiescence by giving the Russian oil barons a stake in the
Iraqi oil fields. Transiting Neptune is nearing a square with the U.S.
Scorpio Ascendant, and will be exact in January when this scenario will
likely be debated within the Bush cabinet.
Richard Reid, Shoe Bomber
A stewardess on the December 22 Paris-to-Miami flight smelled a burning match
and noticed the man seated in row 29 was trying to light a wire protruding
from his shoe. Others quickly joined in subduing the passenger, and later
investigators discovered his shoes contained a plastic explosive device
capable of downing the Boeing 767 jet with its 187 passengers and 14 crew
members.
According to French border police, the would-be terrorist Richard Reid was
born on August 12, 1973** in Sri Lanka. Like the American Taliban John
Walker, Reid has his Leo Sun energized by transiting Uranus over the past
year, putting any natal anarchist or antisocial tendencies into action.
Resonating with the outer planet theme of our times (Saturn opposite Pluto),
Reid was also born with a sharp square between Saturn and Pluto, giving an
instinctive feel for chaos and destruction.
Natally, Reid's Mercury squares Mars which frequently confers a feisty,
confrontational temperament. Then, the opposition to Jupiter in Aquarius is
readily shaped by religious or philosophic systems, but untempered by
critical thinking. Mercury also squares the asteroid Pallas, which according
to astrologer Demetra George, can block one's ability to reason, create, and
verbally express one's ideas.
In short, this man's thinking process is dysfunctional, while his Mars wants
and easily takes direct action by being at the center of a fateful yod with
Neptune and Pluto. Reid probably began planning his terrorist act around the
time of the Summer Solstice Solar Eclipse, which took place right on his
Saturn. On December 22 the Sun and Chiron were conjunct each other and
triggering that eclipse point. Reid was prepared to destroy himself and
finally do something really big with his Leo life.
Reader feedback is welcome. Email: [email protected].
* Birth data according to Vedic astrologer KN Rao in Journal of Astrology. See
www.astropanorama.com/Burning_Astrological_Finger.html
** See www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/25/plane.investigation/ for Reid story with birth data
