As a REAL research engineer, I feel that I must speak out on this topic.  Throughout my career in Engineering Research, I noted a disturbing increase in dishonest behavior amongst unethical managers. 

When I started work in the research field, the acceptance of funding for useless research and other unethical or unprofessinal activities was rare and not culturally acceptable.  Now, it is actually promoted by some managers and corporate executives.  As I reached the end of my career, I observed (a) intentional scientific disingenuous behaviors (Including LIES and fraud), (b) promotion of scientifically ridiculous and/or false conclusions for political reasons, (c) acceptance fo reseach funding for work that the researches KNEW was NOT going to yield any useful information, (d) false claims/conclusions that managers forced researchers to cover up, and (e) promotion of "solutions" to nationally significant problems that managers KNEW were NOT practical, realistic, and/or viable because when the problems with the "solutions" were exposed/"discovered", they woudl receive even MORE funding to resolve the impractical or wothless "solutions"!  I actually had a manager at a major laboratory tell me that it was "unacceptable" for me to "solve" problems because the funding stopped!   I quit that job, but the manager was rewarded for maintaining his funding by wasting tax dollars with unethical actions!  lly had a manBecause of sheer greed, they are willing to take on worthless research activities just for the money! 

Global warming is a perfect example.  Every competent scientist realizes that thrth goes through a temperature cycle of heating and cooling that is totally independent of any actions from man!  Since the last "Ice Age", the Earth's temperatures have been increasing and the rate of increase has NOT been affected by man's generation of carbon dioxide or any other "green house" gases.  It is sad that the media continues to promote the false claims of pseudo-science of inept politicians like Gore while ignoring the input of REAL, qualified engineers with NOTHING to gain from worthless research contracts!

I was greatly disturbed, but NOT surprised to observe support for research in global warming from organizations that are in need of research funding to cover recent funding cuts ion other areas, even if the research is worthless!  (Of NO scientific value!)  We have seen the same problem with (Scientifically Impossible) cold fusion eforts, worthless ozone research, and other controversial and useless research acrtivities.  Insightful reporters will acknowledge this problem and seek QUALIFIED, REAL engineers (Not "C" students!) with NO conflict(s) of interest before they (Accidentally?) promote false or distorted information.