The vibe at the most recent hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee was that the generals running the fight against ISIS in Syria are too timid.

Senator Tom Cotton, for example, wanted to know why it took so long to bomb the hundreds of oil tankers carrying ISIS-controlled oil to market.

General Paul Selva explained they were worried about killing innocent truck drivers. Those drivers are not necessarily supporters of ISIS, but Syrians without much of a choice.

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“I have no doubt about that,” Senator Cotton said. “They’re probably Syrians who are driving trucks. And Islamic state said drive this truck or we’re going to cut the heads off your kids.”

Senator Cotton – not too sympathetic. But General Selva says sympathy is an important tactic, which is why they took the time to print and drop leaflets. The leaflets warn drivers in advance of being captured so they can flee.

The General admitted that yes, they even look for environmentally-friendly ways to blow up oil wells.

“We do as little environmental damage as possible but still limit the capacity of the well to produce.”

General Selva was trying to argue that this isn’t World War II. Anyone who calls for carpet bombing ISIS might as well just put up terrorist recruiting billboards, he said.

“Their objective is to cause us to engage in what they believe is an apocalyptic war with the West,” he explained.

But the majority didn’t seem impressed. Normally, pro-life arguments are welcome on Capitol Hill, but evidently not when they come from generals.