  In this paper we will show in detail that the performed attempts aimed at the
detection of the general relativistic Lense-Thirring effect in the
gravitational field of the Earth with the existing LAGEOS satellites are often
presented in an optimistic and misleading way which is inadequate for such an
important test of fundamental physics. E.g., in the latest reported measurement
of the gravitomagnetic shift with the nodes of the LAGEOS satellites and the
2nd generation GRACE-only EIGEN-GRACE02S Earth gravity model over an
observational time span of 11 years a 5-10% total accuracy is claimed at
1-3sigma, respectively. We will show that, instead, it might be 15-45%
(1-3sigma) if the impact of the secular variations of the even zonal harmonics
is considered as well.
