When Cowboy George W. threw his rhetorical lasso at the now notorious Axis of Evil Gang, a collective gasp was heard around the world. Concern was instantly generated over the potential impact of such language, as well as the likely aggressive policy it implied, especially towards Iraq. Early rumblings in the administration had already hinted at a possible confrontation with Iraq to complete the unfinished business of the Bush Dynasty. After the attack of 9/11, a great effort was expended to find a connection between Saddam Hussein and the al Qaeda terrorists, to no avail. But on January 29, 2002, during his State of the Union address, President Bush officially expanded the War on Terrorism to include those sovereign nations who had weapons of mass destruction and might be inclined to use them on the United States. Iraq was at the top of the list.
Regarding a possible war with Iraq, the question at this point seems to be no longer if, but when. Using astrology, we can attempt to determine the probability and timing of such a war. For this purpose, the birth chart for Iraq, the birth chart for Saddam Hussein, and the chart for Hussein’s swearing-in to the office of the Presidency are being used. Also useful has been a look at some of the transits and progressions from the Gulf War, 8/2/90 to 2/27/91. Using this data, the first time period to come up significantly on the astrological radar screen is from about mid-December 2002 through late March 2003. The second is from late November 2003 through at least May 2004.
In Saddam’s natal chart there are three planetary configurations that, when triggered, can indicate aggression, striving for power, and sudden, disruptive, unilateral action. These are: the Sun/Uranus conjunction (sudden, unilateral, ill-considered action); the Pluto/Jupiter opposition (expanded sense of power and control); and the Mars/Moon conjunction (anger, rash action, and recklessness). It is important to remember that a strong planetary transit, even when it does not directly touch a natal configuration that contains that planet, can activate the planet’s qualities in the natal chart. Thus, when transiting Uranus crossed Saddam’s Midheaven from mid-July through October 1990, it was activating the extremely willful, disruptive, unilateral tendency indicated in Saddam’s chart by the First House Sun/Uranus conjunction.
On August 1, 1990, Saddam invaded Kuwait and began the Gulf War. At this time transiting Jupiter was crossing his Pluto and opposing his Jupiter. Such a transit could make someone who is already somewhat megalomaniacal feel truly invincible. When the air war began on January 16, 1991, there was a New Moon conjunct Saddam’s Jupiter and opposing his Pluto. The next day, as the Sun made its exact aspect to these two planets, Saddam launched his first SCUD missile attack.
There are some indications that Saddam will be involved in an intense power struggle that begins with a strong expression of his power, in either late December 2002 or early January 2003. We find transiting Uranus making a quincunx to Saddam’s Pluto (12/14/02 to 1/08/03), while at the same time his progressed Moon will be in square to both Jupiter and Pluto (12/25/02 to 2/1/03). The overlapping days between these two configurations could bring some dramatic events (12/25/02 to 1/08/03). Other indictors in Saddam’s chart that indicate subsequent and possibly violent and aggressive events through early March are: tertiary progressed Sun quincunx natal Mars (angry, warlike energy, 1/23 –2/23/03); transiting Node opposite natal Mars (2/12 –2/19/03); and transiting Jupiter square natal Uranus (2/23 –3/5/03), which will trigger the converse progressed Mercury square natal Uranus (9/02 to 3/03).
In Saddam’s Swearing-In chart the significant natal aspect for our purposes is the Mercury/ Jupiter conjunction square natal Uranus, again an indicator of sudden, precipitous action. In the Gulf War this was triggered by a transit of Pluto opposite natal Uranus and square to natal Mercury. In November and December 2002, there is a Jupiter station square natal Uranus, indicating the possibility of some sudden, willful, and aggressive act.
In the midst of all of this, of course, is the fate of the Iraqi people, who are pawns in the great power games of nations. The birth chart of Iraq tells the story of a suffering people who have been restricted, frustrated, and living in harsh circumstances for years. In the Iraqi chart we find natal Moon conjunct Venus in a tight opposition to Saturn. Moreover, the natal Sun is in quincunx to Saturn. All of these aspects indicate suffering and difficulties for the population and the burden of a heavy-handed ruler. The progression of Saturn in the Iraqi chart has only exacerbated these extremely difficult circumstances for the general population, making a station since the late 1980’s in very exact opposition to the Moon (indicator of the people). This aspect has just begun to wane, but can still be triggered by a significant transit.
And here is where we come to the strongest indicator of big trouble brewing for Iraq. From late December 2002 through late May 2003, transiting Pluto will be stationary opposite the Iraqi Moon, triggering the still active progressed Saturn opposite the natal Moon. During the Gulf War period, from December 1990 through May 1991, transiting Pluto was quincunx Iraq’s Moon/ Venus conjunction. I think that this Pluto transit of 12/02 to 5/03 and the one following it in 2004 (see below) indicate tremendous suffering for the Iraqi people. It is not insignificant that a similar transit happened during the last war.
A further indicator of powerful events, probable violence, and extremely aroused emotions during this period is the tertiary progressed Mars that will be opposite the Iraqi Moon from 12/4/02 to 1/16/03. Tertiary progressed Mars overlaps with transiting Pluto opposing the natal Moon from 12/25/02 to 1/16/03. (Please note the correspondence with the double triggering of Saddam’s Jupiter/ Pluto opposition from 12/25/02 – 1/8/03.) Also of note here is that tertiary progressed Jupiter will be opposing the Iraqi Moon from 12/1/02 to 4/18/03, thereby intensifying the aggression and power struggles going on during this period.
There are numerous indications in the US chart, George Bush’s natal chart, and Bush’s Inaugural chart of a very significant crisis for the US in January 2003. (See Timeline) It is possible that Saddam will act precipitously in some kind of pre-emptive strike, or it may be that the US aggressively begins the course of events. Also possible, but unlikely in my opinion, is that both countries will go through rather dramatic events unrelated to one another during the same time period.
It is likely that this war between Iraq and the United States will continue through much of 2003 and into 2004. President Bush’s progressed Sun will be conjunct his natal Mars and triggered by the transits of both Jupiter and Mars from July to November 2003 and again in April and May 2004. These are clear indicators that he will be actively involved in the role of Commander-in-Chief, whether in Iraq or elsewhere. But there are no easy victories here. It would seem that Saddam puts up a furious resistance, both in the early months of 2003 and 2004.
The destabilization of Saddam’s regime seems to take place under the numerous Uranus transits that hit his natal chart and his Swearing-in chart from November 2003 through May 2004. (Progressed Moon conjunct natal Uranus, progressed Moon conjunct progressed Uranus, and transiting Uranus square natal Moon/Mars conjunction in Saddam’s chart. Progressed Sun square Uranus, repeatedly triggered from November through May, in the Swearing-in chart, as well as tertiary progressed Sun opposite Uranus in the Swearing-in chart.) While these Uranus aspects suggest defiance from Saddam, with an eventual overturning of the status quo, the continued Pluto transit opposing the Iraqi Moon (ending in 11/03) and moving to oppose the Iraqi Venus and conjunct natal Saturn through most of 2004, suggest a very difficult and painful time for the Iraqi people. Their entire situation is likely to be transformed, but in the slow and agonizing way that Pluto often brings.
For the United States the entire period of 2003 through 2004 will bring great challenges and painful lessons. Transiting Saturn will be conjunct the US and Bush’s Sun for part of this period. Transiting Chiron will be opposed to the US Sun and Bush's Sun in 2003 (crisis, breakdown, and subsequent healing potential). In the US tertiary progressed chart Saturn will be opposed the US Sun for most of 2003 and square the US Saturn for most of 2004. How much any of this has to do with a war with Iraq is anyone’s guess. But if such a war is the predominant theme during this period, it may end up as somewhat of a pyrrhic victory for the United States, a war in which the victory gained was at too great a cost. Whether this is due to losses incurred in the actual fighting, the devastation caused by the use of weapons of mass destruction, the political fallout at home, the fury of international opinion, the instability caused by the destabilization of Iraq, or some combination of the above, is unknown. But we will not see the rousing and seemingly swift victory of the Jupiter station of late 2001 again. In its stead, we will experience the lesson inherent in Saturn’s wisdom: without restraint, caution, and humility, there is suffering.
