I'd say the argument for FP in general is not that it allows for the expression of thoughts that are impossible to express with for, while, if, etc., but rather that functional programs are still able to be reasoned about at the point of complexity where imperative programs become completely intractable.
Not an FP expert so I don't know if this is entirely accurate or how it plays out in reality.
Not an FP expert so I don't know if this is entirely accurate or how it plays out in reality.