OK but that's just the "US Navy was built for major power wars" problem. The asymmetrical combat problem is real. We saw that back in 2000 with the USS Cole.

OK but that's just the "US Navy was built for major power wars" problem. The asymmetrical combat problem is real. We saw that back in 2000 with the USS Cole. I have no insight here obviously, but there's a reasonable theory of warfare that you must accept small losses to justify overwhelming force. Parrying small attacks against the peace is difficult -- cops can't stop bar fights -- but if it spills out into the streets, the riot police are ready to shut down the block (if you want to save the innocents) or bomb the neighborhood into oblivion (if you do not). The US public prefers the first approach, until they do not. War is politics.