The Pentagon is trying to figure out why Islamic State (aka ISIL) has been so successful at attracting followers.
"What makes Islamic State so magnetic, inspirational?" Maj. Gen. Michael Nagata, who commands U.S. special operations forces in the Middle East, asked a conference call of outside experts examining the question, according to a recent New York Times report.
"They are drawing people to them in droves," he said. "There are T-shirts and mugs." Later, Nagata admitted, "I don't understand their intangible power."