Scientist's 'stunned' by absence of sunspots, Say may lead to another "Little Ice Age"

Scientists predict rare 'hibernation' of sunspots

QUOTE: 'For years, scientists have been predicting the Sun would by around 2012 move into solar maximum, a period of intense flares and sunspot activity, but lately a curious calm has suggested quite the opposite. According to three studies released in the United States on Tuesday, experts believe the familiar sunspot cycle may be shutting down and heading toward a pattern of inactivity unseen since the 17th century.'

ANOTHER QUOTE: 'Experts are now probing whether this period of inactivity could be a second Maunder Minimum, which was a 70-year period when hardly any sunspots were observed between 1645-1715, a period known as the "Little Ice Age." "If we are right, this could be the last solar maximum we'll see for a few decades. That would affect everything from space exploration to Earth's climate," said Hill."

First off, I'm not going to get into the Global Warming/Climate Change debate here.  I will say that if what the article describes comes to pass we will likely see an uptick in wars over natural resources, more difficulty growing crops and other slow-unfolding disasters.  It would be quite interesting to find out what is being said about this topic in the higher levels of government.  Oh to be a fly on the wall during those threat assessment discussions...