[GeronL]

what in AQ's arsenal could possibly get close enough to an aircraft carrier that could destroy it?

Maybe four airliners??

[HitmanLV]

4 airliners would be four fat targets for the aircraft carrier. I'm not worried about that.

[Glock17]

The Tomcat guys will be fighting over who gets to stand the alert 5 watches for the next few nights. No way in hell an airliner will get past them (or the sea whiz). Not to mention the escort screen. Robo-cruiser will take over and anything not squawking sweet on MODE 4 Parrot/India dies. It would almost be funny if innocents wouldn't die aboard the airliner.

[Cobra64]

Ever see the communication systems in the military? Especially around a carrier group. You might want to read a Tom Clancey novel to get a whiff of an idea of our military prowess. Amd Rummy's making it even better.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

An airliner getting to a Carrier. Hell, they're made to control the skies for many, many miles around themselves.

First, you'd have to get their entire air wing drunk. An airliner (or four or ten for that matter) would have as much chance of getting within 20 miles of a carrier as I'd have of getting a date with Miss America.

[slimer]

Maybe four airliners??

They would have to get through an extensive array of radar without being noticed - not very likely. As soon as any aircraft, ship or anything else is picked up, fighter jets will be scrambled in a hurry to challenge the threat.