Llewellyn Journal - Astrology Evaluates Operation Iron Hammer

Astrology Evaluates Operation Iron Hammer

Astrology says the Iron Hammer initiative may work, but will take time.

The U.S. and its allies launched a coordinated offensive called Iron Hammer, designed to root out pro-Saddam Hussein loyalists, on November 12, 2003. At least four initiatives occurred nearly simultaneously, responding to Iraqi fire and destroying a warehouse in southern Baghdad.

Two astrological methods can be used to evaluate the efficacy of the Iron Hammer operation. The first is to set a chart for the approximate time the initiative began. I used the earliest time I could find for the beginning of the operation.

In this chart the Sun represents the U.S. and its allies, while Uranus represents the war and the Iraqi opposition to the U.S. occupation. The Moon in any event chart indicates how the action will unfold. According to traditional astrological methods, we observe the following:

The operation actually began before the time stated. We know this because the Moon has already made a connection to the planet Uranus, which is associated with the Iraqi side of the engagement.
Initially there will be a significant amount of activity (The planet Mars is first to be contacted by the Moon after the time of the chart). This is consistent with early reports of action.
Initial success will be followed by a period that feels like “grinding to a halt.” It will feel like only mixed success. (Saturn is the second planet the Moon contacts.)
The third lunar contact is Jupiter. This suggests that creative measures will be taken to adapt tactics to the actual situation on site.
The last contact of the Moon is to the Sun, and it is a positive contact. This indicates that the offensive, while not a total success by military standards, may have the positive effects of dampening Iraqi opposition and shoring up the U.S. position with respect to the rest of the Iraqi population.

The chart for the approximate beginning of the Iron Hammer operation does not reveal as much about the public relations impact with the Iraqi people as it does about the difficulties of starting and sustaining an endeavor designed to ferret out hidden guerilla-type factions. However, it does indicate that the more success in dealing with the guerillas, the more success overall.

Asking the Question
Here is a statement of the question:

It seems like "Operation Iron Hammer" may have some success in Iraq. At least it is a change from seeming lethargy into a positive policy and perhaps a re-focus on the War against Terrorism. Will it be successful?

To answer the question, a chart was created for the time the question was delivered via email and read. In this case an individual asked the question, and the individual is represented in the chart by Sagittarius and its planet, Jupiter. The war in Iraq is represented by Gemini and its planet, Mercury. The Moon was at zero degrees of Cancer, the sign many astrologers associate with the United States, in the previous chart, and is again at zero degrees, this time in the sign of Virgo.

The previous contact of the Moon was to Uranus. This is because Uranus is very close to the end of a sign, and the Moon is at the very beginning of another sign. The chart for the question includes more contacts of the Moon, and therefore provides more detailed insight into the situation. The contacted planets are listed in parentheses.

The supposedly overwhelming force the U.S. has in the Iraq conflict does not guarantee success. Obstacles are encountered because the opposition is able to remain hidden so successfully (Pluto).
Communications will not be entirely successful (Mercury). This is not a stretch to understand, given the language barrier, if nothing else.
There is likely to be a backlash of limited success (Uranus).
There are opportunities to forge practical relationships with Iraqi government and individuals (Saturn).
There will be more explosive bursts in the effort to uncover guerilla resources (Uranus).
The whole process comes home to roost, in a way, with feedback to the U.S. from around the world (Jupiter).
There is potential for positive PR in the situation, especially if the U.S. can reach the Iraqi people (Venus).
The end result depends on the ability of the U.S. to grasp opportunities to form constructive alliances with the Iraqi government (Sun). This is where diplomacy must be balanced with military might.

The longer list of lunar contacts in itself indicates a drawn-out process. What may have seemed simple last week has become more complex as new information has been added to the mix.

Still, astrology suggests that the Iron Hammer operation may have a positive effect on the overall situation in Iraq.