Government scientist slams Newsweek over climate

Below is a note written by Chemical Scientist Dr. Brian G. Valentine, of the U.S. Department of Energy and professor at University of Maryland, to Newsweek journalist Sharon Begley. Dr. Valentine studies computational fluid dynamics and modeling of complex systems.

Ms Begley,

Your editorial, "China and India Will Pay (Though others started global warming)", published Aug 27, 2009 from the Newsweek magazine issue dated Sep 7, 2009, really goes quite beyond belief; and as a matter of fact it reaches into the realm of the nonsensical.

Are you aware, Ms Begley, that exactly none of the claims of terrible weather etc. in these countries have actually been seen?

Are you aware that all of these "forecasts" and "projections" you make about seasonal and annual weather conditions are the product of the worst-case scenarios of climate “modelers” who have most likely cooked these projections up with ulterior motives in mind?

I can equally well give you forecasts that project none of the conditions or events you describe and hold exactly the same probability of occurrence over any given time span that the events you describe, will hold.

I have no idea whatsoever why you would take the information you have written as being more valid than any other projection of future occurrences – and I have no idea what purpose your essay serves.

I hate to be the first one to tell you, Ms Begley, but the notion of "man-made" climate change is BUNK and junk science to boot. It has been debunked every 10 years since 1910, the notion continues to resurface for no other reason than to make some people feel an important need to control the behavior of others.
I would be interested in your response to me, should you deem my letter worthy of a response.

And please, by all means, make this letter exactly as public as you feel it needs to be.

Distribute far and wide!

Brian G Valentine
US Department of Energy
Washington, DC