Flaps,
Somalia limits were political. Not very many folks were versed let alone worked on urban CAS during the Somalia time period. The MEU had Harriers and Marine pilots versed in urban CAS but from my understanding the briefers higher up the food chain were unfamiliar with urban CAS and thus severe limits were placed upon the use of the Harriers.
Guzlin,
Knuckle draggers enjoy Scotch neat.
LO,
The only people who think the Harrier has performance equal to a Hornet (let alone a F-35) are the Harrier bubbas. Having said that there places for the gators. Keeping a CVN off of the coast of XXX that has a MEU doesn't make much sense and the USN has not done it.
In Somalia a CV would have been a large negative. CAS, especially urban CAS is not deep strike or battle field interdiction. Using planes and crews untrained for CAS except notionally to support ground forces in an urban environment is a recipe for disaster of both blue and red.
A CV draws more attention. LO, supersonic, and lots of ordnance at 15-20 minutes often means less than 4 mk 82 equivalents at 5-10 minutes. That is if a CVN is in the area.
S/F, FOG