Ben Carson said Thursday night that he would revise the rules of engagement in the first against the Islamic State if elected the next commander in chief.
Speaking of reports that the U.S. has held off on bombing runs for fear of killing people driving oil trucks for the Islamic State, Carson said, “Give me a break.”
“Just tell them that you put people in there we’re going to bomb them so don’t put people in there if you don’t want them bombed,” Carson said during the Republican presidential debate.
Carson also said he would go after the oil in their territory, which serves as their main source of revenue, and prevent Islamic State fighters from enjoying their leisure time.
“Why should we let their people be sitting smoking their cigars in comfy chairs in Raqqa?” he said.
Keeping the Islamic State on the run, Carson said, will cut into the time they can plan attacks on the U.S.
To deal with the “serious problem” that is the Islamic State, Carson said he would go after their caliphate, which gives them legitimacy. The way to do that, he said, is to ask military officials what they need and then give it to them.
