NewsScope for September 18, 2007

Petraeus Buys Time

Following General Petraeus' controversial report on Iraq, all the presidential candidates issued their own statements on the effectiveness of the surge, which largely fell along party lines. This week, the action shifts to Congress, as Democrats try to impose a timetable for withdrawal. However, most political analysts think Bush's plan has gained enough support to last until the November 2008 election.

The Petraeus report was a milestone in American politics, coming as it did on a Solar Eclipse and the U.S. Mars Return. The stressful planetary alignments at the time continue this week, notably the culmination of Mars opposite Pluto on the 21st. Under these celestial conditions, one would expect intense debate (Mars is in vocal Gemini), and little compromise. The lines between "them" and "us" harden.

Transiting Saturn's path over the coming few months hits vital points in all the top tier candidates' charts. Saturn will be conjunct John McCain's Sun at 6º Virgo in late October, bringing him a growing sense of authority, which he's using to launch his "No Surrender" campaign. Similarly, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson are using Saturn's transit to support Bush's open-ended commitment to Iraq.

On the Democratic side, Saturn is heading toward Barack Obama's Pluto, his ruling planet, (also located at 6º Virgo) and Hillary Clinton's Midheaven (4º Virgo). Both candidates express Saturn's influence by calling for a major change of direction in Iraq. Saturn tests each self-proclaimed authority for the most practical long-term plan. On Election Day, as transiting Saturn and Uranus oppose each other, we will likely have a revolution (Uranus) of authority (Saturn), as the status quo is overturned.

Civil War in Iraq

A key component of General Petraeus' plan is to use the success story in Anbar province as a template for bringing peace to the country. That's where the U.S. military forged an alliance with local Sunni tribes against Al-Qaeda. The plan received a jolt last week, when the Muslim sheikh who convinced his followers to align with the U.S. was assassinated.

The original invasion (March 20, 2003; 5:35 am; Baghdad) is the best way to track U.S. involvement in Iraq. This chart features Pluto conjunct the Midheaven with Saturn in opposition from the Fourth House. This house describes domestic conditions, and Saturn, as the voice of authority, represents the various sheikhs and elected officials who hold power in different domestic settings.

A major challenge in this horoscope is the problem of duality, seen in the Sun and Ascendant in Pisces, and Saturn afflicted in Gemini. This easily translates into sectarian strife, or more starkly, civil war. Transiting Mars was exactly conjunct the Invasion chart's Saturn when the alliance-forging sheikh was assassinated last week. Unfortunately, Mars turns retrograde in mid-November while still in the Fourth House, promising an extended phase of growing domestic violence.

The current climate of crisis is evident with transiting Uranus right on the Ascendant. In December, transiting Pluto will square the Invasion chart's Sun, located in the last degree of Pisces. One might expect that the shaky government formed under Maliki might fall as this transit unfolds. Perhaps Maliki will survive this phase, but then Pluto returns to this degree area in late 2008—right in time for the U.S. elections.

Jodie Foster as Anti-Hero

September's line-up of high-pressure planets involving Mars has been reflected in the kinds of films being released, with an unusual number of violent thrillers and murder mysteries. Leading the box office this week is Jodie Foster, who in The Brave One, morphs from a mild-mannered radio host into a shadowy assassin after a gang of thugs kills her fiancé.

Jodie Foster was born with her Sun in vindictive Scorpio (November 19, 1962; 8:14 am; Los Angeles) in the Twelfth House of Secrets and Hidden Enemies. She also has three other planets in Scorpio, including her love planet, Venus, which forms a dynamic square to Mars. Many of her film roles involve the seedy side of sexual relations, including her first foray into film, Taxi Driver, where she played a teenage hooker.

With her Moon conjunct Uranus, Ms. Foster thrives on shock value. This emotionally-disruptive combination is found in the Ninth House of Morality and opposes Jupiter, so that many of her movie themes push the envelope of what movie-goers regard as normal behavior. She did this as a rookie FBI agent in Silence of the Lambs, and in her Oscar-winning performance as a rape victim in The Accused.

Transiting Venus just turned direct on Jodie's Mars, enhancing her appearances on talk shows to promote The Brave One. Transiting Saturn is also nearing her Moon-Uranus conjunction, and consequently she openly discusses the moral issues involving her portrayal of the character. As Saturn passes through Jodie Foster's Ninth House, she's assuming the feminine version of Scorpio Charles Bronson as the self-righteous, vengeful vigilante, the super anti-hero.

For more on the top tier candidates, Iraq, and other political astrology essays, visit www.neptunecafe.com.

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