I’m confused. Isn’t there a uniform code of military justice which says that assaulting a prisoner is a felony? If someone punched a prisoner, isn’t he violating military policy? Isn’t that a breach of discipline? Do you think that a breakdown in military discipline can get people killed in the special forces?
No. I don’t accept your premise that punching these scumbags would cost lives. How do you arrive at that conclusion in this case? catching terrorists certainly improves morale. Whether they were punched or not doesn’t matter much in this case but could also improve morale.