''The carrier could allow US Special Forces to evacuate US citizens'' Really from what? I for one would not be happy in a time of crises if septics forces were allowed to run around the streets of London shooting from the hips and generally being American.
I think the major embarrassment would be from the fact that the assault ship carries a bigger air wing than anything we could field including Harriers that the powers-that-be have decided are no longer of any use.