*Lights Smoke*

Ahh at the beginning of every year I suppose it is a tradition/ ritual to look up what Astrologers have predicted for the up and coming year. Wheather it would be on a personal basis or the world in general. As a Libra it looks as if it is going to be a struggling year (as if anything has changed). But what about the world's situation?

According to Ed Tamplin (http://www.edtamplin.com/StopPress.html)

In 2004 the United States re-enters a cycle that has inevitably brought disasters, from the torching of the White House and San Francisco earthquake to assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. They are definitely facing the prospect of another co-ordinated homeland attack, misfortune or maritime calamity. Time frames appear to be late April, early to mid June and late September to early October. They may be just as susceptible to a 'natural disaster'.

Hobbs: Well, if you look at what has gone on so far in the US and with the news would one not think this is bound to happen? And to call it a 'natural disaster'.... is this not what we set ourselves up for in the end? Does it mean that it can be controlled by mother nature herself? Or what we do as people how the end result will be? In other words the act of cause and effect?

As for the rest of the article is this based on common sense on what has already happened, or in fact does the planet line-up effect what is going to happen? You decided.

Rest of Article:

President George Bush's horoscope shows his progressed Sun, a measure of his evolving identity, reaching warlord Mars around the April/May period which could also coincide with an escalation of military operations. It will be a much harder year for the USA and Bush who will feel the accountability of it all by June. But it appears that they will need to flex their military strength yet again by the second quarter. All this will come at a cost to the economy, which still hasn't bottomed out for mine. Bush may have trouble holding onto power if Howard Dean's January 2005 aspects are anything to go by. There is a lot of sudden change and totally unexpected events around the late September/October period in America which we'll look more closely at as the year progresses.

Australia re-enters a Saturn cycle that has culminated with the leader being deposed and/or defeated. They also have significant eclipses affecting the national horoscope that reinforces a change in the power base. It could well be that 2004 is the last year that John Howard occupies the leadership position although he currently shows no signs of relinquishing his role. In a similar vein sudden health concerns that caused a scare for British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, may be more serious than first thought. Blair is another who may be forced to step down or lose support somehow. At the very least these three leaders face enormous problems this coming year.

The divisions of India/Pakistan and Israel/Palestine were each formed under Saturn/Pluto conjunctions. This combination can signify the brutal oppression common in police states, or when martial law is imposed. There is a constant battle for control and the occupants of these lands are bitterly divided and antagonistic to each other. During 2004 the planet Neptune will oppose this Saturn/Pluto union and tend to dissolve power starting with India and Pakistan. This places the leadership under great threat, state control will be difficult to maintain, and there will be an erosion of confidence in the administration. The same combination of planets has been common to pandemics and chemical or biological disasters.

Whilst it would be inadvisable to accept a lift in general Musharraf's car, another leader under great threat is President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Karzia, was born on Christmas Eve of 1957 with a very violent chart. A New Moon on his birthday, coupled with other planetary conditions means he faces an increased risk of assassination, which would encourage more uprisings in Afghanistan. As for Iraq, although insurgencies will continue we may have seen the worst of the rebellion. Attention will switch to Saudi Arabia where there will be much pressure on the Royal Family to maintain order. The British Royals (Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles) have a lot of Mars energy around them where accidents or operations are not uncommon. Another one who appears more danger to himself than anything else is entertainer Michael Jackson. He has a lot of violent energy around him.

The Philippines also looks to be a sore spot with national elections due in May. The Philippines has long been considered a terrorist hideout and rebel Islamic leader Abu Sayyaf will continue to challenge the establishment. The situation may call for US intervention. The Solar Eclipse of April 19 2004 falls on the birthday of Zimbabwe. Already they have been eclipsed out of the Commonwealth, but there may be changes at the top as the year progresses. Perhaps President Mugabe isn't as safe as he thinks. The authority of the United Nations was undermined in 2003 as the USA, Great Britain and Australia broke ranks with the UN majority and invaded Iraq. This authority will again be severely challenged toward the end of 2004.

The Iraq situation has played out as the planets suggested. A US led invasion of Iraq in the first quarter of the year destabilized the leadership of the country and captured former President Saddam Hussein before the year was out. However control of the war torn country produced more 'peacetime deaths' than 'combat fatalities'. The red herrings were the mysterious weapons of mass destruction that remain a secret. The western leaders who sanctioned the invasion on this pretense may well pay if no weapons are found.

The nuclear threats of North Korea may well be addressed around April, as this is certainly a year when the whole world must come together on this issue of nuclear weaponry and missile technology.

There will be frequent updates during the year, where I will address individual issues independently. In the meantime, I want to thank you all personally for your tremendous support throughout 2003. I hope you all have a wonderful year ahead.
Ed Tamplin (http://www.edtamplin.com/StopPress.html)