[berserker]

The reason for the study:

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, right, accompanied by Commerce Secretary Donald Evans meets reporters at the Commerce Department in Washington Thursday, July 24, 2003 where they discussed a multi-agency strategic plan to answer some of the most complex questions around the climate variability and change issues. The chief goal of the new 10-year plan and $130 million to study global warming is learning more about natural causes of climate change, drawing criticism from environmentalists who say reducing industrial carbon emissions is the real problem.(AP Photo/Stephen J. Boitano)

[fractal38]

I think you're on to somthing. This is the third event in the past week to focus on natural causes of global temperature change. First was an hour long program on the Science Channel which explained Svensmark's theory that the combined effects of cosmic rays and variations in the the Sun's magnetic field govern the Earth's climate.The program had proponents of the greenhouse effect on to defend their theory and then ridiculed them.

Second was an article in the Geophysical Society of America's GSAToday showing that these two factors account for the major climate swings that have occued over many millions of years.

Third is this anouncement. This appears to be the start of a major PR campaign to challenge the environmental wackos.