Moral justification for the execution of criminals of war?

[arewethereyet]

While I am essentially against the death penalty in all it's forms...to me, when it comes to the Taliban...we have to cut the heads off the snakes.  It's not something that can be done at once, it's going to take time.  I don't have the issue with it that I do with the death penalty in general.

The list of people that I think the death penalty is the right thing for is quite limited.  But the heads of the Taliban are on that list.

The problem with this claim is that you are being selective. You are deciding who lives and who dies according to your morals. What if someone else says taliban should live? What if someone says you should die for certain action?

A general rule needs to be established. Otherwise we are gods of death and justice.

Of course it's selective.  Otherwise I would just say, "Kill them all".

Child rapists - proved beyond a shadow of a doubt.  They make the list for me.

YMMV