NewsScope for May 11, 2004

Donald Rumsfeld Under Siege

Last week President Bush admitted that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should have told him earlier about the prisoner abuse situation in Abu Ghraib. Still, Bush continued to support Rumsfeld amid a growing tide of angry critics called for his ouster. Rumsfeld apologized last Friday and stated that there are many more pictures of blatantly sadistic acts by American soldiers against Iraqi prisoners.

Donald Rumsfeld (July 9, 1932; 5:40 pm; Chicago) and George W. Bush are both Cancer natives, and both have the Moon in Libra and Mercury in Leo. Rumsfeld's Uranus in Aries, an indicator for his technological expertise in warfare, is conjunct Bush's Midheaven where it shapes the President's military strategy.

Bush was reportedly blindsided by Rumsfeld's lack of candor about the Iraq prison. This description invokes Neptune , the planet where nothing is as it seems. Bush's Neptune in early Libra is conjunct Rumsfeld's Libra Moon, and Libra is infamous for wanting to paint a "nice" picture. Any unpleasantness gets quickly glossed over, or buried in the recesses of bureaucracy.

Rumsfeld's own Neptune is conjunct Bush's Mars, giving the President a vision for his military objectives, or alternatively, a misguided plan for sending American troops into the quagmire of Iraq . Transiting Uranus was exactly opposite Rumsfeld's Neptune as this scandal broke. Will he stay in command? Transiting Jupiter will conjunct Bush's Mars on May 20, by which time Bush could free himself of his besieged Secretary of Defense.

The Mercenaries of CACI International

Private Military Companies (PMCs), working as independent contractors for the Pentagon, collectively constitute the second largest army in Iraq . They provide the troops with vital logistical support, as well as performing some of the most dangerous military operations. PMCs are now under intense public scrutiny since one of these, CACI International, is under investigation for torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

A horoscope for CACI's incorporation (October 8, 1985; noon; Dover, DE) reflects the nature of the company's business and the current crisis. Uranus conjunct the Sagittarius Ascendant describes its independence (Uranus) in foreign operations (Sagittarius), or as some might say, its maverick status. Militant Mars in the service sign of Virgo further describes its employees as soldiers, and is in the Ninth House of foreign countries.

Mars squares Uranus, indicating the "soldiers of fortune" character of some of CACI's workers. Over the last few years transiting Saturn and Pluto have been activating this highly volatile Mars-Uranus link, perhaps pointing to this company as being deeply involved in the covert operations that led up to the invasion a year ago. Venus is conjunct Mars in this chart, pointing to the sexual nature of the abuse.

Transiting Pluto remains in this degree zone and is heading backwards to conjoin Venus, where it may unearth more sexual deviancy. Meanwhile, Saturn has entered Cancer and will soon be squaring CACI's Sun, testing the current leadership's viability. A major progressed aspect (progressed Sun conjunct Pluto) spells trouble for the company, and an investigation that reveals how the PMCs in general operate outside any legal system.

Item: Sean Lennon and Elizabeth Jagger

Although the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were arch rivals throughout the 1960s, the children of the lead singers have fallen in love with each other. John Lennon's son Sean and Mick Jagger's daughter Elizabeth were introduced to each other on March 15 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, and they've been seeing each other ever since.

Sean Lennon, who looks remarkably like his father, was born with a Sun-Pluto conjunction in Libra (October 9, 1975; 2:00 am; Manhattan, NY) that forms a favorable sextile to his Leo Ascendant. This combination is a natural entertainer, and capable of reaching large audiences. Currently, transiting Neptune has just entered his Seventh House of partners where it forms a favorable trine to his Sun.

Neptune in the Seventh House tends to attract Neptunians as partners, and Elizabeth Jagger (March 2, 1984; 1:37 am; New York City), with her Sun and Moon in Neptune-ruled Pisces certainly qualifies. With Gemini on her Seventh House, Mercury (the communications planet) represents her partner. As the story flashed around the world last week, transiting Uranus was exactly conjunct her Mercury.

Personal readings are available from Michael WolfStar.