Possibly the government did not really believe that it was torture. But “Our government had no hesitation about classifying it as torture when it was used against us”. Hey good argument but not conclusive.! I simply had to admit that I was wrong, and that “tickling” “IS” [sic] torture. It evokes a primal, uncontrollable panic reaction, and yes — people can be permanently harmed by it, both physically and mentally. “Tickling” Just because you call it torturing does not make it torturing.