Heaven forbid somebody get emotional about parents literally poisoning their children. Being emotionally affected by senseless deaths means you can't be right that it's bad, don'cha know.

I'd give more weight to the combat speech with more speech attitude of giving a rational, well researched response to claims like the one described in the article if those claims were spread, through the populace, in an equally rational and non-emotional tone.

Incidentally, the most effective and least abstract arguments against murder and genocide are based on emotions — leaving them aside, you're left with assigning a worth to the lives taken.