Global warming Continues

Skeptical Science recently posted an informative article titled "Yes Happer and Spencer, Global Warming Continues" (3-3-12):


William Happer is a Princeton physicist and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the right-wing fossil fuel-funded think tank George C. Marshall Institute.  Although he has not published any climate-related research in his scientific career, Happer nevertheless seems to enjoy making his opinions about climate science known, as we have previously examined here and here.  Unfortunately, Happer does not seem interested in taking the time to ensure that those are informed opinions.

Rather than subject his thoughts to the peer-review process, Happer's publication of choice appears to be The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), as he was one of the 16 scientists who recently published a plea for climate inaction in that paper, and a follow-up article defending their previous misrepresentations.  Happer has now gone solo, publishing another opinion-editorial in the WSJ with such a Gish Gallop of climate-related myths as to be a truly Moncktonian effort.


Though we will briefly whack each of Happer's moles in the post below, one particular myth caught our attention.  This myth was also recently endorsed by Roy Spencer in an interview with John Stossel on Fox News - the myth that the planet has not warmed in the past 10 years. [See full text.]

The National Intelligence Council: Global Water Security (2-2-12)

The World's Water, Vol. 7 Now Available

The disreputable climate change denialists at the Heartland Institute are claiming that the famous water expert Dr. Peter Gleick may be in hot water with the FBI because he scammed the Heartland Institute and exposed Heartland's plans to develop curriculum materials that spread climate change disinformation to school children. Dr. Gleick's area of research is very important for people all over the world.  For example, the National Intelligence Council's latest report is titled Global Water Security (2-2-12), a subject close to Dr. Gleick's heart. See also Dr. Gleick's Water and Terrorism (2006).


In school, science teachers won't be filling students heads with the lies spread by the climate change denying Heartland Institute; instead, teachers will be reading and teaching what Peter Gleick's books and the NIC report say because these documents are written by scientific experts who are trying to keep our people safe, not by political operatives for the fossil fuel industry. The key judgments of the NIC report state:


During the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will experience water problems—shortages, poor water quality, or floods—that will risk instability and state failure, increase regional tensions, and distract them from working with the United States on important US policy objectives.  Between now and 2040, fresh water availability will not keep up with demand absent more effective management of water resources.  Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth.  As a result of demographic and economic development pressures, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems.


Dr. Gleick has taken a hit, and I wish he hadn't risked his career and reputation. Scientists should take the high road so the public can trust them, even if the Heartland Institute doesn't; still, Dr. Gleick may have brought down the sleazy operatives  who run the Heartland Institute. If our law enforcement agencies would monitor these sleazebag "charities" better, perhaps great scientists wouldn't be resorting to desperate measures so that ordinary teachers can teach science instead of lies to the kids.

The following intelligence organizations participated in the in the preparation of Global Water Security (p. 16):

The Central Intelligence Agency 

The Defense Intelligence Agency 

The National Security Agency 

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Counterterrorism Center 

Also participating: 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Counterintelligence Executive  

The Sixteen U.S. Intelligence Agencies that Make up the National Intelligence Council (NIC)

Logo of the Sixteen U.S. civilian and military intelligence agencies as shown on the CIA website.

Sixteen civilian and military agencies collect information on threats against the United States: Air Force Intelligence, Army Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Coast Guard Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marine Corps Intelligence, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Agency and Navy Intelligence.

These sixteen agencies all contribute information to the National Intelligence Council (NIC):

The NIC is a center of strategic thinking within the US Government, reporting to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and providing the President and senior policymakers with analyses of foreign policy issues that have been reviewed and coordinated throughout the Intelligence Community.


The NIC reports that they have done research on transnational organized crime and on climate change. According to the NIC:

Transnational criminal networks are actively targeting U.S. businesses, consumers, and government programs. Some crimes involve widespread transnational conspiracies while others are perpetrated by largely U.S.-based groups with ties abroad.


The NIC has published a series of reports about the effects of climate change in various countries. The Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, Dr. Thomas Fingar testified before Congress (6-25-08):


We depended upon open sources and greatly leveraged outside expertise.  Since the Intelligence Community does not conduct climate research, we began our effort by looking for other US government entities that were experts in this area.  We worked with the US Climate Change Science Program and visited with climate modelers and experts from the Department of Energy national laboratories and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA).  We also relied upon support from the Joint Global Change Research Institute—a joint research program between the University of Maryland and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory—Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network, and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California.


Our primary source for climate science was the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report [link added] which we augmented with other peer-reviewed research and contracted research. We used the UN Panel report as our baseline because this document was reviewed and coordinated on by the US government and internationally respected by the scientific community.


The most recent report is titled Global Water Security (2-2-12). The key judgement states:


During the next 10 years, many countries important to the United States will experience water problems—shortages, poor water quality, or floods—that will risk instability and state failure, increase regional tensions, and distract them from working with the United States on important US policy objectives.  Between now and 2040, fresh water availability will not keep up with demand absent more effective management of water resources.  Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth.  As a result of demographic and economic development pressures, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems.

The National Academies (NAS) also has an informative site called America's Climate Choices.

Russian Authorities Say Former KGB Chief Leonid Shebarshin Shot Himself

KGB Foreign Intelligence Chief Leonid Shebarshin in younger days.


Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (3-30-12) reports:


Russian authorities say the man who headed the KGB for one day after the failed 1991 Soviet coup has been found dead in his apartment as the result of an apparent suicide. 

Russian investigators say the body of 77-year-old Leonid Shebarshin was discovered on March 30 with a bullet in his head.

Nearby was a pistol he had been awarded when he retired.

Investigators said they also found a suicide note. [See the full text.] 


The Independent (3-30-12) reports:

Stanislav Kucher, a commentator who had interviewed Shebarshin and counted him as a close acquaintance, said Shebarshin had been "of sound mind" at 77 and that he did not know why he might have killed himself.


The lifenews.ru website quoted extracts from Shebarshin's diary discovered at the scene, which revealed that he could have had health problems. His last entry read:


"March, 29 - 17.15, left eye failure. 19.00, went completely blind. Foreign Intelligence duty officer 4293593."