[Mariner]

If the Chinese shoot first, they can sting us.

However, the penalty to China for sinking US Capital ships is, at the VERY LEAST, the total destruction of their Navy...and possibly much, much more.

Standard US doctrine is: Sink a Carrier and we retaliate with nukes.

[Pamlico]

Uh, that was before mr. hopey changey was elected by the gullible. The administration has admitted that an enemy could really do anything and not suffer a devastating response from the US.