War being Hell and all...

Syria accused of "systematically" killing 11,000 detainees. How is this any different than just regularly killing them?

I would presume it means lining up prisoners for cold-blooded slaughter v killed in heat of battle.

I've no love for murderous thugs regardless of belief or motivation, and in the whole history of warfare, I'd figure that's been more often the case than not, taking warriors prisoners (other than as slaves) being a modern civilized idea, one which presents bigger problems with cult fanatics than, say, ordinary German POWs. Detention, like Guantanamo, presents big problems (although letting them go is the biggest), but I still like to pretend we prefer justice by law to summary slaughter.