What is the mission of the carrier force? The idea that we would be engaging in just conventional warfare against the Chicoms or the Russians is ludicrous. Look at the wars we have engaged in since the end of WWII. We have not been putting our carriers at risk. Nor would we. We know what the capabilities of our potential enemies are and act accordingly. There is no way Iran will be able to take out a carrier and what would be the consequences if they tried?
I served on an LPH during Vietnam. We had air cover from the carriers. How do we protect our amphibious forces and support vessels?
No. We won't deploy carriers within enemy assets that could take them out of the fight. At the same time, carriers are useless outside the effective range of their fighter/attack squadrons.
As the article mentions, land-based anti-ship weapons are increasing in effectiveness, concealment and numbers, pushing our carriers farther out to sea. Payload on an F/A-18 is a zero-sum game. The more fuel it needs to carry, the less ordnance it can carry.
As the article also points out. These land-based weapons are proliferating. How long before Iran (or ISIS) gets ahold of them?