You make the same mistake Buchanan does, believing that these people think like we do, and make decisions based on what is in their best interests. They don’t. They are an apocalyptic theocracy, just like ISIS aspires to be, just with a slightly different interpretation of the end times events that they aspire to be a key part of. That’s their goal, not self-preservation.
No doubt they preach that BS to the useful idiot troops, but the top guys are no rush to meet their virgins.