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One
unpublicized reason for the war in Iraq is the danger that the euro may
replace the dollar as the world's currency of choice for international
trade.
Iraq
Switches from Dollar to Euro
On November 6, 2000, while Americans were distracted
by the controversial Florida presidential vote count, the Iraqi government
switched from dollars to euros to sell oil. Until that point, the dollar
had been THE currency of international trade. With the American military,
the mightiest the world has ever known, prevailing, our tax dollars will
again go to work funding US corporations to rebuild Iraq from the rubble,
and the dollar will be restored as the currency exchanged for Iraqi oil.
But one consequence of the war may be other oil-producing nations replacing
dollars with euros. Such a changeover was believed possible before the
war. Some insiders now believe it's inevitable. Even if the US military
conquers every major oil-producing nation on the planet, it will not restore
the goodwill that elevated the dollar in the first place. The Bush Administration
has blown that goodwill away for the foreseeable future.
 Chart
#1 shows where the planets were November 6, 2000, when Iraq switched to
euros, compared to where they were when the US was born on July 4, 1776.
It shows that the US natal Uranus, associated with unprecedented surprises,
was afflicted that day by Pluto, Chiron and Venus in Sagittarius, and
by Jupiter in Gemini. The US Mars at 21 Gemini 57 is also impacted by
the opposition from Sagittarius. Mars and Uranus are the primary influences
of conflict and the unprecedented.
Another indication that Iraq's switch to euros
and the war could have a major impact on the US is the t-square formed
by Jupiter in Gemini, Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Sagittarius. This combination
speaks of a rising intensity toward major change (Pluto), expanded by
Jupiterian enthusiasm and Martian assertiveness.
Once
the Supreme Court decided that George Bush would be the next American
president, dealing with the implications of Iraq's switch to euros fell
on his watch. Each new president changes the mood of the country. It soon
became evident that the new mood Bush brought was militant independence.
By the time of the attack of 9/11, Bush had already alienated the governments
of other nations by demonstrating his disregard for the Kyoto Treaty and
other international agreements. Following 9/11, the people of the world
became overwhelmingly sympathetic with and supportive of Americans as
we dealt with that tragedy. When Bush sent US military forces into Afghanistan
to take out Al Qaeda and, if possible, bring Osama bin Laden to justice,
world public opinion was solidly behind the USA.
Truth
as Casualty of War
The Bush Administration then linked 9/11 to Saddam
Hussein and set its sights on the invasion of Iraq to get rid of Hussein
and bring American style democracy to the people of Iraq. That, at least,
is the stated aim of the war. With that decision, world public opinion
swung 180 degrees from overwhelming approval to overwhelming disapproval
of Bush. Within the borders of the US, the corporate media worked hard
to persuade us that a majority of Americans were in favor of Bush's war.
Given the number and intensity of antiwar demonstrations, however, many
doubted the media. Some were reminded that it was back in 1917 during
World War I that Senator Hiram Johnson made his much-quoted statement:
"The first casualty when war comes is truth." Despite strong
objections in the United Nations and public opinion outside US borders,
Bush mounted his invasion. Few doubted the American military would prevail.
Some feared that Iraq was the first of other conquests in the Middle East
and elsewhere that the Bush Administration is planning. One thing is sure:
the Bush Administration has brought an intoxicating war-like mood to America.
Not since World War II have Americans been so focused on all the excitement
and busyness that add up to preparing for and mounting all-out war.
At home, there is fear of another terrorist attack
more devastating than 9/11, and abroad there is shock and horror at what
the Bush Administration has ordered done in Iraq, and fear of what his
next move might be. Will he order US troops to do likewise in Iran? Syria?
The Palestinian Territories?
It
can help us understand Bush's impact on our lives to review his birth
chart. Chart #2 is a biwheel showing where the planets were when Bush
was born compared to where they were on the USA's "birthday,"
July 4, 1776. The US natal Sun and Bush's natal Sun are conjunct in Cancer,
with both square planets in Libra: Bush's Chiron, Moon and Jupiter conjunct
the US Saturn in Libra. This combination does not inspire economic confidence.
Indeed, the economy has worsened since Bush took office.
Bush was born during World War II shortly after
Uranus had circled back to Gemini where it had been when the US was born
in the American Revolution, and 84 years later during the Civil War. Bush's
natal Uranus is conjunct the US Mars, aligning these two warrior energies.
His Mars is square the US natal Uranus. This Mars-Uranus combination is
rare and volatile. With his Sun conjunct the US Sun, Bush is "as
American as apple pie." His Mars-Uranus combination with the US Mars-Uranus
indicates he brings contentiousness or worse. He showed himself to be
a sturdy competitor as candidate and now he is perceived by military personnel
as the best Commander in Chief ever. Outside the US A, he is widely seen
as the worst threat to world peace and stability ever.
In
the short run, the war in Iraq is expected to mean less expansive gasoline
at the pump. But violence begets violence. It's human nature to extract
revenge. Since no other nation has an army comparable the USA's, the world
will seek alternative means. And the most logical—and least violent—is
the replacement of the dollar by the euro. If outraged world opinion moves
international traders out of dollars and into euros, the impact on the
American economy will be horrendous. For detailed information about this,
I recommend The
Real Reasons for the Upcoming War With Iraq by
W. Clark. Although written before the war started, Clark's essay is well
researched, solidly reasoned and clearly written.
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