I'd like to point out that in John McCain's experience the principal factors conducting the torture were members of a recognized government agency which means they were subject to the Geneva Convention. As such they are war criminals!

In the case of the hat pins dipped in dog crap (although I find it truly abhorrent) the people using them were not members of a recognized government agency and therefore the Geneva convention does not apply. Also use of the contaminated hat pins in an offensive or defensive manner is not "torture" but might be considered terrorism.

It's funny but the best way I can describe the current situation is to use a song title from David Bowie, "This Is Not America".