there’s plenty of room in websters for torture to mean much of anything. but if you’ll notice there’s a concentration of meanings around pain and extreme pain which is agony.
water boarding for example, does not cause agony or pain. it causes fear.
all the pictures at abu gharib and were about humiliation. and not pain.
club gitmo just looked funny.
Since I, and I assume you, have never been the subject at a water boarding party, your assumption that it does not cause pain is unsubstantiated. Come talk to me after a Jack Bauer gets done with you, until then, I lend little credence to your declaration.