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Wouldn't war be so much better if you could rely on the spared enemy effectively "retiring"? That way you could safely spare people's lives, and it would be very sportsmanlike.

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I guess in today's kind of warfare you would have to send them a letter that they have been spared from a strike.

That used to be a thing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parole#Prisoners_of_war

"The United States does not authorize any Military Service member to sign or enter into any such parole agreement."

Is there any reason for that?

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