Reply #2: It seems to me that the Senate attempted to deal with precisely such issues

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in some of its reservations, such as The Senate's advice and consent is subject to the following reservations: (1) That the United States considers itself bound by the obligation under article 16 to prevent `cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment', only insofar as the term `cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment' means the cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the Fifth, Eighth, and/or Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States ... http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/cat/treaties/convention-reserv.htm