Arnold's punch line from True Lies (when he admits to his heretofore unsuspecting wife that he's been a spy / action hero all during their marriage, and has, in fact, killed people) still draws a chuckle. But it's a strained one, as it presumes that we're the Good Guys and they're the Bad Guys and therefore whatever we do to them is justified, even if its stuff that, when they do it to us, is considered heinous.
Call me an idealist, but I'd like the difference between sides to be a bit more than which tribal colors the soldiers are wearing.
(Original at http://fusion.net/comic/34222/when-is-torture-torture-a-thought-experiment/)
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Yes.
In case it needs saying, I think there are differences between, say, the United States and the Taliban or ISIL. A lot of those differences are in principle, a lot are in action. But principles are derived from action, or else they are useless ("faith without works is dead"), and actions inform us about the actual principles held.
The actions of the United States Government in this matter, from the CIA, to the Justice Department, to the White House folk (whichever of them knew what) to the Congressional overseers (whichever of them actually knew what) demonstrate principles I not only do not believe in, but are difficult to distinguish from those of the Taliban and ISIL.