Weekly Political and Entertainment NewsScope

by WolfStar

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June 18, 2007

September Deadline for Iraq Surge Strategy

As President Bush recently upheld, this coming September General Petraeus will report on the Pentagon's surge strategy in Iraq. September is now widely accepted as the legitimate deadline for any progress to manifest. While some analysts point to Anbar province as a success story, last week's bombings of sacred mosques are sure to lead to more sectarian violence.

Astrologers might wonder if any planetary indicators point to September as a turning point in the American occupation of Iraq. A quick glance at the ephemeris reveals several significant changes, including Saturn entering Virgo, and Pluto turning direct and heading for its Capricorn ingress. However, to track American geopolitical developments, one needs to look at the U.S. horoscope, and the Scorpio Rising chart** used here features 16º Leo at the Midheaven.

A basic guideline in forecasting important national events and historical shifts is the involvement of the angles, and especially the Midheaven. On September 7, Venus turns direct at 16º Leo while exactly conjunct the U.S. Midheaven, the nation's point of honor. Venus, as the natural ruler of peace and cooperation, will have her way. The Bush administration is already anticipating changes by embracing the key ideas from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

General David Petraeus was born with his Sun at 15º Scorpio (November 7, 1952; Cornwall, NY; time unknown), where it opposes Jupiter at 16º Taurus. His lunar node axis is at 16º Leo/Aquarius. With these kinds of placements, it's small wonder he's the American in charge of the Iraq surge strategy. Venus turning direct on September 7 hits the vital points in his chart, the ones that connect him to America's fate in Iraq.
 

Hamas Takes Over Gaza

Palestinian efforts to create a unified central government were crushed last week when Hamas military forces seized control of the Gaza Strip during a five-day civil war. Only three months earlier, the rival parties Hamas and Fatah agreed to a power sharing program, but now Palestine will likely split into two regions, with Fatah controlling the West Bank and Hamas ruling over Gaza.

Hamas was officially organized on August 18, 1988 (set for noon in Gaza*), at a time which reveals its unbending militarism. Mars in bold Aries is dramatically fortified by a quincunx (150º) to Pluto and a square to Venus. The Venus-Mars square can be thought of as a love (Venus) of fighting (Mars), and the Pluto connection intensifies the martial flavor with an overwhelming urge to crush the enemy.

The Leo Sun is well-placed since it's strengthened by trines to the Saturn-Uranus conjunction in late Sagittarius. This combination has fostered widespread approval among Palestinians - so much so that Hamas won the general election in January 2006 as transiting Pluto was first conjunct the Hamas Saturn (government). Currently, Hamas is completing a violent revolution as transiting Pluto hovers over natal Uranus.

Most observers fear that under Hamas control, the 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza will face an immense humanitarian crisis. Saturn is now heading into late Leo, where it will conjoin the Hamas Sun, giving the fledgling government a real test of leadership. Hamas has been branded as a terrorist organization, but endures despite international isolation and condemnation. However, support will likely arrive from within the Islamic community as transiting Saturn completes its pass.

Nancy Drew Returns as Emma Roberts

Nancy Drew, one of America's most enduring franchises, hit the big screen this past weekend. Julia Roberts' niece, Emma Roberts, stars as the impeccable teen sleuth who confronts a Hollywood mystery and haughty fashionistas. The filmscript is meant to update the literary icon, although the character remains sweet and polite. The blue roadster is gone; a Prius is more her style.

Nancy Drew first appeared in The Secret of the Old Clock, which was published on April 28, 1930 (noon, New York, NY) during the New Moon in Taurus. In this original story and continuing through numerous sequels, Nancy Drew is unaffected by the Great Depression and World War II, a material security reflected by the Taurus Sun and Moon trine Saturn in Capricorn.

Emma Roberts was born with her Sun in intelligent, independent Aquarius (February 10, 1991; Rhinebeck, NY; time unknown). Emma became interested in acting at an early age when she watched Aunt Julia make films. This formative influence is seen in Emma's Ceres (maternal guidance), which is conjunct Julia Robert's Scorpio Sun. Another, perhaps more karmic, link is that Julia's Cancer Ascendant is exactly conjunct Emma's South Node.

Emma's Venus is well-placed in Pisces, where it sextiles the epochal Uranus-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn. This Venus has made the young woman a star through several films and the popular Nickelodeon TV show Unfabulous. Innovative Uranus at 12º Capricorn happens to be exactly conjunct the Nancy Drew Saturn, showing how she's upgrading the old model. Meanwhile, transiting Neptune is right on Emma's Sun, bringing her the aura of celebrity.



* For more on Hamas, see NewsScope August 23, 2005 and June 10, 2003.

** The U.S. Scorpio Rising horoscope is fully delineated at http://neptunecafe.com/ScorpioRising.html

 
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