I find your articulation of the issues superb, Poppy. And much needed. Refusal of mercy makes us smaller, and harder. Poorer, individually and collectively.

I would also add the pragmatic, as well, if the moral and ethical are not sufficient. Once someone is killed, all they are - all they were, all they knew, all they held - is lost. We do not know which things might allow us to succeed in our goals, or what will be required.

I do not think we can afford such luxuries.

Clearly, we must contemplate some alternatives: this will not be the last time we are faced with this question. (Alice, my dear, I will give thought to some of the practical issues. The research that lead to the method used at Saltash might bear fruit.)