During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Dr. S. Fred Singer debated Carl Sagan on the impact of the Kuwaiti oil fires on American Broadcasting Company News "Nightline." Sagan said the smoke would loft into the upper atmosphere, disrupt the monsoons and lead to ecological disaster. Singer said such a view was ridiculous, that the smoke would go up only a few thousand feet and then rain out. Three days later, black rain began falling over Iran, which pretty much put an end to the speculation.