Off My Mind: Why are the Secret Avengers a Secret?

When Steve Rogers returned after Red Skull's scheme to take over his body failed, he left Bucky Barnes with the mantle of Captain America and became the commander of the Avengers. With S.H.I.E.L.D. and H.A.M.M.E.R. no longer active, Steve is also the peacekeeper for the world. What people aren't aware of is he is in charge of one other group as well —the Secret Avengers. 

Does this team really have to be a secret? Steve Rogers gathered Beast, Nova, Valkyrie, Black Widow, War Machine, Ant-Man and Moon Knight for their first mission that took them to Mars. The idea of heroes going to another planet and having a battle could be something the average citizen would not approve of (think of the cost!). There's also the secret Shadow Council and Max Fury that would only cause panic if their existence were known. 

The team's roster has changed slightly as Nova is no longer around and who knows if War Machine will be able to be active since he's taken on new duties in Iron Man 2.0. The team's second mission continued their battle against the Shadow Council and added Shang-Chi's evil father. Still, it didn't really seem like a super secret mission once again. 

There seems to be something to keeping the team a secret. Soon in Secret Avengers #12.1, the secret will be out and there will be a rush to save compromised superhuman assets. How much of an effect will this have on the team and is there really a need for the secret?   
== TEASER == 

It was odd from the beginning to have someone like Eric O'Grady on a secret team. Yes he wouldn't be someone the Avengers would want to advertise as a member but more so, you would think he'd have a hard time keeping that secret. He's already told a woman he picked up and was casually talking about it in the pages of The Avengers when all the members gathered to solve problem with the Infinity Gems. 

When the idea of a secret team of Avengers was announced, I envisioned them sort of like X-Force but with way less killing. What the Secret Avengers should be doing is solving world-wide dangers without going through official channels. I see them secretly battling evil forces in foreign lands and crossing the boarders into places like Latveria. Then again, having secrets (and a Secret War) is what got Nick Fury in trouble in the first place. 

I think if the heroes have learned anything during Siege, Dark Reign and Secret Invasion, it's they can't sit around waiting to avenge any wrong-doings. With the change in the threats of today, it might be necessary for the Avengers, or at least a team of Avengers, to take a cue from Wolverine's X-Force. They should consider taking the initiative to seek out potential threats to the world and deal with them before it's too late. The heroes and the world have suffered many losses recently and it's time for them to step up and deal with the next big threat before even more lives are lost. Otherwise, what really is the need to keep the team a secret?