I like what is said in the Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, "Here again, as in the case of the prophecy concerning Moab, what the prophet has given to him to see does not pass without exciting his feelings of humanity, but works upon him like a horrible dream." When we see the judgment upon our enemies in light of our humanity, we can be moved with compassion. We might justify ourselves otherwise but when we see them as humans changes everything.
This reminds me of something David McCullough quoted in his book about President Truman. I don't have the quote exactly but though a third nuclear bomb was ready and the Japanese hadn't surrendered yet, Truman ordered a stop to dropping it, because of this thought of the destruction another bomb would have on the women and children of that country. Seeing things through the eyes of humanity changes everything.
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