July 14, 2003

The End of Saddam in Post-War Iraq?

Last week as U.S. casualties kept climbing in Iraq, members of the House Armed Services Committee grilled Tommy Franks, the retiring commander of the U.S. forces in the war. Franks admitted under questioning that U.S. troops could remain in Iraq for years. Meanwhile, U.S. special forces concentrated on finding Saddam Hussein who continues to inspire hostile reaction to the American presence.

Iraq's horoscope (August 23, 1921; 6:00 am; Baghdad) reflects continuous problems well into next year and beyond. Transiting Neptune opposes Iraq's 12th house Mars-Neptune conjunction, activating a secretive, guerrilla-styled insurgency. On the plus side, last week transiting Jupiter formed a favorable trine to Iraq's Moon. This astro-event corresponded to the creation of a governing council with broad executive powers.

Last week the CIA confirmed that an audio tape from Saddam was authentic. This tape was made on June 14 when the Sun was at 23 Gemini, and verifies his rectified horoscope (April 28, 1937; 8:06 am; Tikrit - see NewsScope March 31). Saddam has 23 Gemini Rising, and he was last seen on April 8, the day before his statue was toppled in Baghdad, and when transiting Saturn was at 23 Gemini.

On July 3, the day before the Saddam tape was aired, the Pentagon offered a $25 million reward for his capture. At the time transiting Mars was at his Midheaven and squaring his natal Mars. Watch around the last few days of August as transiting Mars returns to this degree area and is opposed by the Sun. This August 27-29 time frame is given extra importance due to concurrent astro-events,* and heralds a major skirmish, and possibly Saddam's capture or death.

Presidential Astrology and the U.S. Moon, Part 2

Many readers pointed out the error in last week's NewsScope regarding George W. Bush's progressed Venus-Jupiter conjunction. This very favorable combination takes place at 25 Libra, not 25 Aquarius as stated. However, his progressed Venus-Jupiter trine the U.S. Moon remains an extremely favorable indicator for his re-election, and promises to bring him truckloads of financial contributions, honor and recognition, and public approval.

Several readers asked about Saturn's transit to Bush's Sun and the U.S. Sun, and doesn't this portend his fall? It could, and in fact the last time Saturn was conjunct the U.S. Sun was the very day that Nixon resigned - August 8, 1974. Going back to previous cycles shows that this kind of trouble is unusual (see NewsScope, February 17, 2003 for more details).

Still, Saturn's transit could significantly weaken Bush to the point that the Democrats have a chance. Of the nine declared candidates, only four have natal or progressed planets aspecting the U.S. Moon (see NewsScope June 30 for Part 1 of this series). Hillary Clinton also has the link, and though she has said she's out of the running, over the next few weeks we'll look at her chart and the other viable contenders.

John Kerry is one of four declared candidates with natal or progressed planets aspecting the U.S. Moon, but the connection is a weak semi-sextile from Mercury. Kerry (December 11, 1943; 7:10 am; Denver) is doing well in the polls, and transiting Pluto is activating his Sun-Saturn opposition. He could wage a ferocious campaign, but in the end he would lose because he doesn't have the strong link to the U.S. Moon.

The Kennedy Curse

Edward Klein's latest book "The Kennedy Curse" zooms in close to recount the explosive details of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s relationship with his wife Carolyn Bisset. Apparently, only days before they both perished in the plane crash, Carolyn's sister Lauren, who also died in the crash, was attempting to reconcile the two. Was this just another unavoidable tragedy, the result of some weird Kennedy karma?

Astrologically, the so-called Kennedy Curse can be traced back to the marriage of Joseph Kennedy and Rosemary Fitzgerald on October 7, 1914 (10:00 am; Boston), a union of two powerful Irish families that soon evolved into a financial and political empire. This horoscope is exceptionally dynamic, and is further empowered by many close connections to the U.S. horoscope.

Most importantly, the marriage took place during an exact conjunction of Saturn and Pluto in Cancer. The conjunction of these outer two planets was also right on the U.S. Venus, and reflects the family dynasty that was born to raise Big Money and influence politics. Edward Klein's book was published as transiting Saturn returned to this exact degree.

The astrological detective will find that all the Kennedy personalities, successes, and tragedies have tight connections to this Kennedy marriage horoscope. Venus Rising describes the money, fashion, and beautiful Kennedy women. Mars in Scorpio here is also conjunct the U.S. Scorpio Ascendant, and is under great tension from squares to Uranus and Neptune. This configuration is especially active during tragedies, including the Mars Return when JFK Jr. died on July 16, 1999.


* Simultaneously, Jupiter opposes Uranus. In Saddam's chart, his progressed Midheaven is conjunct his Sun, and activated by the progressed Moon.