How would you feel about a ruler who allowed his enemies to be tortured endlessly?

Everything else they did was good and just, but they allowed their enemies to be kept alive and endlessly tortured. Would you be appalled and feel they're cruel/insane? Or would you say that since they're the leader and 100 percent in charge, they must have a good reason to do what they do. They're not wrong to allow their enemies to bare such an awful punishment.