"Given that this summer was cooler than normal in the Arctic, the ice cover percentages were not encouraging."

And why should we desire a lot of arctic sea ice?

The point is if there was the same amount of ice this year compared to last year, that means their predictions were wrong.

I don't understand this hoarding mentality in regards to ice.
For example:
"Scientists warn Pyrenees will melt by 2050

Posted Sat Sep 6, 2008 10:27am AEST

Leading global warming scientists say the 21 remaining glaciers in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe will melt by the year 2050.

The researchers say high mountains are particularly sensitive to climate change and there has been a steady increase in temperature since 1890.

Their calculations show that since 1990, a rapid thawing has caused the largest glaciers to shrink by 50 to 60 per cent and the smallest ones have completely disappeared.

The glaciers in Spain were formed during a 'mini ice age' which lasted from 1300 to 1860"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/06/2357213.htm

Why isn't it a good thing that the ice formed during the Little Ice Age *might* melt 50 years from now?

Isn't it about time?