And if Timothy McVeigh had done the same thing in some foreigh country, maybe on instructions from a president trying to divert attention from his domestic embarrassments, would people feel any differently about him?

My interpretation of your statement is that McVeigh is being villified because he did NOT do "the same thing in some foreign country on instructions from a president to divert attention from his domestic embarrassments". In other words, McVeigh's crime was no different than what may be acceptable behavior on the part of the President, so why should he pay the ultimate price.

Am I missing your point?