THE YEAR 2009 FORECAST

PREDICTIONS FOR WHAT BARACK OBAMA MUST DO

The text in red are predictions based on the United States Horoscope of July 4, 1776. Monthly cycles last approximately 4-6 weeks around the peak date; events tend to occur within this period but usually close to the peak date.

President Obama will immediately face the need to re-create a sense of hope and confidence in our national purpose and strength. Obama has strong leadership skills based on his horoscope (better than Hillary Clinton or John McCain). He will immediately use the 42-year cycle to the U.S. Moon that peaks Jan. 25, 2009 to rally the people. The Moon represents the people; Obama will appeal to them and provide social aid as well as encouragement at this time. A grand vision will be set out in somewhat simplistic terms that will be a call to action. Food prices may rise but help will be on the way to the ailing mortage industry, especially the individual mortage holders - the people. There will be a great outpouring of sentiment toward him and his diverse administration.

To end the recession, he must instill confidence in the markets, establish regulations and oversight boards to help prevent future unsound business practices, stem the tide of foreclosures, and get people back to work with a massive infrasture plan. Obama's inaugural speech will be a rallying cry touching the hearts of Americans. He will be successful in instilling hope from the first day in office. The nation will be mobilized in late Jan. through Feb. with a sense of mission as Congress battles out a compromise bill to get the nation working on an infrasture plan, help for ailing manufacturing firms, and the establishment of a calm and balance approach to market activity. No harsh measures will be imposed at this time. Obama will strive to create consensus and a working relationship with all competing sides. He will prove in Feb. that his administration, at least initially, will be one of compromise and a balanced, harmonious, approach to pressing issues. Foreclosures will continue but help for be on the way to primary residence holders. Substantial market regulations and oversight will be delayed until Sept. 2009 and coninue through Aug. 2011.

Obama will need to rebuild productive working relationships with friends and allies, and restore the flagging U.S. reputation in the world. Obama has vowed to ban torture and close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay; he also has voiced the opinion that engagement with Iran would be in our best interest. A new working agreement with Mexico and strategic ties with Brazil, the world's ninth-largest economy, are sorely needed. Japan is a counterbalance to China and needs our continued support in spite of the fact that many nations in Asia are suspicious of Japanese intentions. Transiting Pluto is in opposition to the U.S. Venus in three phases during 2009. This indicates detente with foreign nations. These talks will be polite, suggesting superficial agreement, but will be unsuccessful with major competing nations especially near Feb. 1 and 15. Progress will be made with friendlier nations but their problems will keep them mostly preoccupied with national agendas. Humanitarian progress and a major breakthrough is likely after Feb 18 until Apr 4. Poor and unsuccessful relations, even the liklihood of foreign aggression condemned by the West, exists from Apr. 4 through the 17th. A suprise breakthrough, a new treaty or agreements are very possible through the rest of April. The end of summer near Aug.29 once again brings a chance for the above objectives to be met. Self absorption and a sense of isolationism prevails in Sep., while trade will be instrumental around Oct. 5 and 11 leading to significant agreements, friendship, and alliances in Nov. and Dec., especially near Nov. 27, Dec. 15, and 31st.

The federal budget is awash in red ink. The huge expenditures to prop-up the economy only make the matter worse but in the short term these deficits may be necessary. There is no end to the Federal deficit problem. The massive government expenditures and investments to help bring liquidity back to the banking and financial industries only makes the U.S. debt grow. This long-term debt remains the greatest threat to American supremacy. The long warm trend (see Data link) indicates bigger government and larger expenditures. There is likely to be a reduction in the short-term debt beginning in the last two months of the year. Expect the Obama administration to attempt a balanced budget after restoring the nation to fiscal soundness.

.Energy dependence must also be addressed; a shift to renewable energy sources, coal, and nuclear power must be enacted. A new energy plan faces certain foreign objections, however, namely in the Middle East and in China. The Chinese believe that a new energy plan would be a ploy to slow down China's economic growth. Foreign relations and bilateral agreements are necessary in order to restructure a new energy plan. An effective new energy policy can be started as early as Feb. and Mar. August will also bring significant new advances, objectives, and commitments in the area of fuel. These months are also likely to correlate with higher oil prices. Energy negotiations are most likely in the months just cited; also expect innovation and energy breakthroughs in Mar. and Aug especially.

The issue of pollution and climate change likewise will weigh heavily on Obama. Sunspots are at a low point and will begin to rise in 2009. In the years ahead, cooler and stormier weather is likely. Greenhouse gas emissions will still be a central issue in negotiations with foreign nations especially within a months of Feb. 18 and Aug. 27. Major disagreements will erupt near Apr 12 and radical proposals or objections will be voiced by foreign nations. Still, significant improvement in pollution rules can occur close to Mar 26 with some cheating and backlash coming in Apr. There will be some progress in August but much more will remain to be done - bleak prospects.

Immigration reform, universal health care, and education reform are also pressing issues for the new president. Social reforms such as these timely issues are usually legislated during short-cool periods in the annual, average temperature record. The success or failure of Obama's efforts depends on the temperature trend. Based on the U.S. cycles, however, immigration and universal health care are likely to make major strides in the month of April. Education reform will be proposed in July and significant improvements made in October. By year's end it will be easier to get a student loan; colleges will also get assistance.

The United States faces the growing danger of nuclear proliferation. Obama would be wise not to let our guard down in defense of the homeland. Of greater immediate concern is the al Qaeda stronghold in Pakistan. The simultaneous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will also be of pressing concern. Diplomacy concerning Israel and the Palestinians, and the entire Middle East region, are of utmost importance - the administration has to get a workable policy going. The Iranian and Korean nuclear issue is best left to displomacy and regime change. An attempt to militarily eliminate Iran's nuclear facilities would be foolish. The probability of failure is great and the resultant instability in the Middle East would lead to widespread oil shortages and protracted warfare. Iran, however, will probably have enough enriched uranium by this year or next to build a bomb. Israel stands ready to strike with five German Dolphin submarines capable of carrying nuclear missles. Israel has also purchased 90 F-161 fighters in preparation for war with the Palestians and whoever else is a current threat. (More about the coming wars can be found in a special reportunder the "Articles" link.) The Taliban cannot win in Afghanistan; but by continuing to fight, they keep us from winning. The war enters its eighth year in 2009. As previously predicted, Afghanistan and Iraq are a mirror image of Vietnam in terms of the planetary cycles to the U.S. horoscope. War in Afghanistan (and in the Middle East) is likely to last longer than the 14-year Vietnam War (1961-75). The Cyclical Index of war (see my book Earth Changes and the article on war under the "Articles" link for more information) indicates that major engagements will break out in the years 2009-2011. Expect a confrontation with Iran and within Pakistan to coincide with trouble in Africa, North Korea, and continued fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pakistan also faces civil discord. The Israeli Hamas and Hezbollah conflicts will also flair. The times of greatest emergency when America is called to action will be in January and February, especially close to Jan. 25 and Feb. 15; April; near May 28; and suddenly near July 24 and through Aug. and Sept.

To finish the Afghan war will require new policies to address four major problem areas: the tribal areas in Pakistan, the drug lords who dominate the Afghan system, the national police, and the incompetence and corruption of the Afghan government. Pakistan can destabilize Afghanistan at will. It is necessary, therefore, to get the regional players on board to find a solution (Iran, China, India, and Russia). Iran does not want radical Sunnis in charge of Afghanistan so they must be included in diplomatic negiotions - something the Bush administration rufused to do. Unfortunately, I see negotiations being only possible at times with Iran based on its leadership. Regime change, outside of war, is the only current solution. A U.S. friendly government exists in Afghanistan but there is only so much that can be done to influence the Afghan leadership. The regions bordering Pakistan are Plutonian to the U.S.; this means they will provoke, retreat, and switch sides. Armed conflict is inevitable in this area. Expect within the year for America to be more militarily involved in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Africa remains a hotbed of problems for the U.S. Over $13 billion has been spent by President Bush on an anti-AIDS program in the continent, but the violence in Sudan (Darfur), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, and the Horn of Africa has not been adequately addressed. Obama is likely to initiate help beginning in late Feb. and Mar. in particular. April and Aug. are also important months for humanitarian efforts. Aid to Africa in Aug. is likely to obscure a new military plan and continued build-up of forces in our bases there. In Sept., the U.S. will be so preoccupied with internal problems and issues that Africa will fade from the scene for the time being. The Somali pirates will be handled by American and regional forces to protect the waterways. The violence prone months cited above are also significant moments when U.S. forces may be called upon to deal with the pirates; this may come as early as January near the 25th.

BACK TO IRAQ: The Iraq war has been a real mess - arguably a mistake in the first place. To leave a stable Iraq requires getting all the three sects (Sunni, Shia, and Kurds) involved in government. The employment of local militias by the government has been a grand success - first started in July 2008. American troops are now in a subservient role to Iraqi forces and law. The militias are being absorbed into the Iraqi military and police forces. The infrastructure is back to where it was before we invaded. Now we need to build it up and ensure the government's stability as they continue to take on more responsibility for themselves. A complete oil agreement will allow us to leave the country except for a few military bases and forward supply stations in the event of future Middle East turmoil. Obama will attempt to wind-down troop deployment in April and from September to the end of the year. A large force, however, will remain.