I fear this trends toward the political "Line of Death" so I'll try to toe the line and understand if the sheriff needs to weigh in.

I'll start this little tightrope walk by annoying most people and refusing to take a side on AGW.

Instead, I'll point out two facts, one about the earth and the other about the nature of the science involved.

The historical record indicates the earth has been much, much warmer in the past. My very limited understanding of climatology is that our recent (well geologically speaking recent) cool period is a bit unusual (in many ways).

Climatologists try to represent a nearly unfathomably complex system (the earth) by taking a statistically insignificant data sample and tailoring a grossly simplified set of mathematical equations (relative to the real system) using a few (again, relative to reality) independent variables to match the curves in our known data set. The iterative nature of these models makes them very, very sensitive to minor changes in initial conditions and the "weightings" and relationships assigned by the team running the study.

These models are no where near the complexity level of the real thing and many of the scientific principles being modeled (i.e the specific interactions) are not as well understood as something simpler like say mechanical stress and strain (where the models don't always match reality).

I am not a climatologist or a scientist. I am an engineer and I have spent most of my career working with mathematical representations of reality and statistical analysis. Models are great tools, they are not reality and can only be trusted in the regions where they can be compared to actual test results. By definition every model is wrong but occasionally some are useful.

I suspect the ultimate answer on climate comes close to matching the stereotypical view on midwestern weather - wait a while, its sure to change.

And now to slowly step away from the third rail....

-Eric