Originally Posted by
tdracer
America has shown itself, repeatedly, to respond quite violently when attacked. Destroying an American fleet (not one ship mind you, but a whole freaking fleet) would demand a massive retaliation - and if the attack had been nuclear there is little doubt they'd respond in-kind.
I believe this applies to non-nuclear "carrier killer" ballistic missiles as well. Any nation that decided to kill a carrier either with or without nukes would certainly receive a devastating counter strike. If a non nuke was used the counter strike would probably also be non nuclear, but devastating nevertheless.