As for ice cores, the same argument is applicable. There is no possible way to determine how many times a patch of ice froze or thawed in any year, nor how many years it may have remained frozen without freezing. It's all circular assumption. The ends justify the means for all old earthers.
The rings are read in groups, not in isolation. Similar ring patterns can be discerned in various trees.
As for ice cores, the same argument is applicable. There is no possible way to determine how many times a patch of ice froze or thawed in any year, nor how many years it may have remained frozen without freezing. It's all circular assumption.
It is not "ice" being read, but remnants of annual snowfalls. The ice cores are calibrated by checking for inclusions from known historical events, such as volcanic eruptions or forest fires.
The ends justify the means for all old earthers.
It seems that, by purposefully misrepresenting the science involved, this statement would be more applicable to YEC types.