We've only had satellite measures of ice cover since 1980. (drtimball.com)
The solar - cloud connection is quite real (after two satellite measured sun cycles), but can't explain the rather fast and huge changes in radiation balance over the previous period. (realclimate.org)
The type of measurement can not be at fault either as it is the same satellite measuring both poles on a daily basis. (theinconvenientskeptic.com)