The Middle East chart has Cancer rising and a first house conjunction of the Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune all in Leo—a strong belief system indeed! It is worth noting that the Middle East Mandate (Article 22 of the League of Nations covenant) can be interpreted in two possible ways: 1) a benign attempt by the principal allied powers (which did not officially include the United States because then-President Wilson was unable to get Congress to ratify the League of Nations treaty) to protect the rights of Middle Eastern people defeated in World War I; or 2) a sinister attempt by Western powers to control Middle East development and assets (i.e., oil).  One possible interpretation of the Middle East 12^th house Pluto, therefore, is “behind the scenes control” or “the power behind the throne” (Great Britain, which was given the Iraqi mandate, quickly began to lose control over the country in a manner strikingly similar to the present occupation; the British wasted little time before installing a monarchy in Iraq in 1921). In the horoscope for the Middle East, Pluto closely sextiles another planet with control issues, Saturn, and at the approximate midpoint of these two planets is the Moon-Jupiter-Neptune conjunction.   The Taurus MC exactly squares the Jupiter-Neptune degree of the conjunction, an astrological recipe for religious beliefs on a collision course with land and a constant internal tension borne of fiery beliefs (Jupiter in Leo) eroding (Neptune) the ruling power structures (Taurus MC).  This symbolism is repeated in the exact opposition of Saturn and Uranus in the Middle East chart.  Not surprisingly, these planetary themes are played out repeatedly in various composites, transits for major events, and planetary return charts.

The horoscope for the Middle East Mandate shows that what affects one nation also affects others in the region. For example, Iraq has currently become a magnet for anti-U.S. sentiment across the region, resulting in the destabilizing presence of non-Iraqi insurgents from other Middle East countries. In the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq tried to draw Israel into the conflict by firing Scud missiles into Tel Aviv.  In addition, there is frequently a disconcerting symmetry of events. On August 19, 2003, at 4:45 p.m. local time, a massive explosion tore apart the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.  A horoscope for this bombing shows the event Ascendant exactly on the Middle East Descendant; the Scorpio MC for the U.N. bombing squares the key Jupiter-Neptune conjunction of the Middle East chart. A little more than four hours after the U.N. headquarters was bombed, there was a massive bus explosion in Jerusalem.  A chart for that event shows the Ascendant degree conjuncting the Middle East Mercury. In addition, the MC for the bus explosion opposes the Middle East Pluto while the Middle East Saturn-Uranus opposition forms an exact trine (for Saturn) and sextile (for Uranus) to the bus explosion MC .  This astrological synchronicity—two horrific bombings four hours apart in two Middle Eastern nations-- highlights the intertwined destinies in this part of the world.

The horoscope for the Middle East Mandate shows surprising synastry with the U.S. Sibly chart. The U.S. Jupiter exactly conjoins the Middle East Pluto.  The Middle East Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is within one degree of the U.S. horoscope’s North Lunar Node, clearly linking the U.S. national destiny with the whole of the Middle East.  Not coincidentally, the Middle East Mandate’s Jupiter also conjuncts, within one degree, President Bush’s Ascendant. 

Constructing a composite chart for Iraq and the Middle East Mandate produces a T-square of rising Pluto (exactly on the Ascendant, uniquely symbolizing the Middle East power structure) opposing Mars, both squared by a 4^th house Saturn.  The powerfully aggressive and martial energy of this t-square is “deployed” into the 10^th house of national prestige.  The intensity of this planetary configuration is heightened when one looks at the U.S. Sibly chart and notes that the U.S. Pluto exactly conjoins the Iraq/Middle East Mars.  In attempting to overpower (U.S. Pluto) the Iraqi military dictatorship of Saddam Hussein (Iraq/Middle East Mars in Capricorn), the U.S. has triggered the rest of the explosive composite T-square.   At the outset of the previous Gulf War in 1991, the Iraq/Middle East composite Mars took a direct hit from transiting Saturn.  Furthermore, both the U.S. Sibly Neptune and Iraq/Middle East Neptune are within two degrees of each other in Virgo—both countries view each other through distorted lenses; both chart’s Neptunes are about to be squared throughout 2004 by transiting Pluto, which may dramatically and inexorably intensify the distorted perceptions of both nations.  Later in this article, we will examine some of these points as future event triggers. 

U.S. and Iraq composite horoscope

A composite chart for the United States and Iraq has Neptune within one degree of the composite Ascendant.  Throughout the current conflict, transiting Neptune has trined the U.S./Iraq Neptune, making the conflict for each side appear deceptively easy.  A recent investigative article in the Los Angeles Times revealed, through numerous interviews with Iraqi military commanders, that Saddam Hussein and his son Qusai truly believed that the United States could be defeated in urban fighting in Baghdad; the American public, they felt, would quickly sour on the war once U.S. casualties began to mount.[iii]  And President Bush famously proclaimed on May 1, 2003, “In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”[iv] Subsequent events have shown such words, proclaiming a quick and easy victory, to have been perhaps a bit premature.

 It should come as no surprise to find that, when examining a relationship of (depending on one’s perspective) liberation or invasion, the first casualty of such a conflict is usually the truth.  In any situation where one finds a conflict between truth and appearance, Neptune would be expected to play a prominent role.  Indeed, after first noting the strikingly subjective and self-contained southern hemisphere bowl pattern in a composite chart for the United States and the Middle East Mandate (relocated to Baghdad), Neptune can be seen as surprisingly active. Neptune and Mercury are engaged in a dance of deception in the composite chart and significant transits to the composite.   Mercury (mass media, communication, and according to Charles Carter, “changes”[v]) closely squares Neptune (oil, chemical weapons, treachery, and confusion).  This would account for much of the distorted and inaccurate earlier media coverage regarding the search for chemical weapons.  For example, the confluence of mass media, chemical weapons, and confusion (or Neptunian deception, depending on one’s perspective) was clearly in evidence on April 4, 2003, as MSNBC first reported the discovery of “evidence of ricin [and] botulinum” at an “Islamic militants’ camp” in Sargat, outside Baghdad.[vi] Later tests showed there were no such forbidden weapons of mass destruction at that site.

     Neptune conjuncts Mars, the ruling planet of the military, in the U.S./Middle East chart.  This configuration seems to perfectly symbolize the situation in which the occupying military forces currently find themselves: total military victory, symbolized by a Leonine Mars, is dissipated in wisps of Neptunian smoke and that which appeared to be—an easily victorious war—has become in truth a difficult occupation.  The U.S. leadership chose not to reconstitute the Iraqi army because they felt it could not be trusted, leading to the present situation of a rapidly invading army (Mars) seeming to lose all momentum (Neptune), like a speeding army tank which runs out of gas and slowly comes to a sputtering stop.

The U.S./Middle East composite Mars squares the chart ruler Venus, “a planet of victory,”[vii] further illustrating the difficulty the United States has experienced in winning this war. Venus is conjunct the fixed star Algol.  According to Bernadette Brady, “The Chinese called [Algol] Tsieh She, meaning Piled Up Corpses...Algol represents a strong consuming passion that may devour…with anger and rage.”[viii]  The chart-ruling Venus, planet of “victory,” may end up being bought at a very high human cost.  Transiting Uranus squared this point (25 degrees of Taurus) in early October, just as Congress was passing a resolution authorizing President Bush to use all force necessary to insure national security and enforce Iraqi compliance with U.N. resolutions.

A composite chart must address not only the present, but also the past and the future in a relationship.  The Mars-Neptune conjunction appears to have played out in the first Iraq war of 1991, when allied forces withdrew from the battle front after routing the Iraqi military from Kuwait, but leaving Saddam Hussein alive and still in power.  Many have since questioned the lack of finality in that war: military resolve (Mars) became subsumed by a need to adhere to the limitations of United Nations resolution 678, which called for the use of force only to expel Iraq from Kuwait (I believe the U.N., a 12^th house organization that exists in its current state to help others, is ruled by Neptune).  A quick military Martian thrust (Operation Desert Storm) was dissipated in a Neptunian sandstorm of global politics.  The MC of the Desert Storm chart is conjunct the U.S./Middle East composite Neptune, indicating the strong U.N. role, as well as a lack of clarity in the outcome.  In addition, Neptune at the time of Operation Desert Storm squared both the U.S./Iraq Ascendant and U.S./Iraq Neptune.

Neptune in both the U.S./Iraq composite and the U.S./Middle East composite rules the 6^th house, identified with the armed forces and public health in mundane astrology.  Neptune relates to chemicals and hospitals.  The hard-to-diagnose Neptunian illness known as Gulf War Syndrome has plagued military personnel since the cessation of Operation Desert Storm.

Iraq’s infrastructure, which includes power planets (Uranus), electricity grids (Uranus), water (Neptune) and waste (Pluto) systems, has been severely damaged through looting and sabotage.  Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), in acknowledging that the U.S. postwar policy has been flawed, recently said that “…we did underestimate the deterioration of the infrastructure” in Iraq.[ix]  Transiting Saturn (which might be said to rule the “skeleton” of a nation) conjuncted the U.S./Iraq composite Uranus in mid-2003  and began to square the U.S./Iraq Neptune, while transiting Neptune began to square Pluto in the same composite.  These transits signal that significant problems with the Iraqi infrastructure will continue well into 2004.

If we look back at previous international conflicts, we also find that Neptune has a large role to play.  Neptune figured prominently in another war: the Gulf of Tonkin resolution is now recognized by historians as a deception by Lyndon Johnson to get Congress to enact the closest thing we ever had to a Vietnam war resolution.  On the day that the Gulf of Tonkin resolution was approved by Congress (August 7, 1964), a conjunction of the Sun (the president) and the Moon (the people) exactly squared Neptune.  Perhaps the strength of Neptune at these times has to do with the fact that in most armed conflicts, there are always degrees of deceit, hidden elements, and appearances are at variance with the truth.  

The President’s State of the Union speech is delivered to Congress in January.  The 2003 State of the Union address (delivered during a Sun-Neptune conjunction) has proved problematic for the President, freighted as it was with those infamous 16 words stating that Iraq had sought to purchase uranium ore.  The January 2004 State of the Union address, scheduled for January 29 at 9:00 p.m. in Washington DC, replays the Sun-Neptune conjunction and Neptune squares the Moon (albeit by a 6 degree separating aspect). 

On November 8, 2004, Saturn will go stationary retrograde at 27 degrees of Cancer, where it will oppose exactly the Iraq/Middle East Saturn and square exactly the intense Iraq/Middle East Mars (as well as the U.S. Sibly Pluto).  November 8, 2004, also happens to be six days after a presidential election, indicating the strong possibility of a dramatic convergence of the election and events in Iraq. 

We have seen the less savory side of Jupiter during the ongoing Pluto transit through Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, a time fraught with all manner of beliefs and true believers squaring off in sometimes violent confrontation.   Jupiter returned to its Middle East Mandate “natal” degree—conjuncting Neptune, squaring the MC of the Middle East chart--on September 12. 2002, the day that President Bush addressed the United Nations to proclaim that the U.S. would proceed unilaterally against Iraq if the U.N. did not offer support for possible military action.  Jupiter again hit this degree on March 13 and April 26, 2003, roughly encompassing the duration of the U.S.-led military invasion of Iraq.  Going back 12 years—the length of a cycle of Jupiter--would bring us to 1991 and, in fact, Jupiter returned to its natal degree in late 1990 and early 1991.  One of the dates of Jupiter’s return was January 27, 1991, eleven days after the official start of “Operation Desert Storm.”  Going back 12 more years would bring us to 1979.  A Jupiter return occurred on June 21, 1979, approximately three weeks before Iraqi President Al-Bakr resigned and was succeeded by his then-vice president, Saddam Hussein. 

A Jupiter return chart for the first Jupiter return contact in the present cycle (September 12, 2002) gives an Ascendant of 0 degrees of Pisces, which Uranus hit exactly as the current military conflict proceeded. The U.S./Middle East Neptune is right on the Descendant of this Jupiter return chart.  In the return chart, Neptune exactly opposes Jupiter and both planets may be said to rule the Pisces Ascendant.  Since this chart symbolizes events for the next twelve years, we will likely see a continuation and expansion of Middle East regional Piscean and Neptunian themes which have been suggested in this article.  At the time of the next Jupiter return in 2014, with Pluto in Capricorn squaring the U.S./Iraq Ascendant and Neptune, we may witness another major regional turning point, the exact nature of which is hidden but will in all likelihood involve the same unresolved themes as the current conflict.  The current conflict/occupation/pacification is not the end, but part of a still-unfolding process