That's been going on for thousands of years.Nowadays, it usually only politicians that allow torturing using the military.
For example, Braveheart was made an example.
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William Wallace
His preserved head (dipped in tar) was placed on a pike atop London Bridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wallace#:~:text=His%20preserved%20head%20(dipped%20in,Berwick%2C%20Stirling%2C%20and%20Perth.