And your point is that the AQ or Taleban would have run crying to their moms just because an AH was there - get real. These guys couldn't give a toss about armed helis, they would relish the chance to take that out too. The only things these guys don't like are fast jets and AC130s.
And for the record I've never said that I wouldn't want AH along - I just wouldn't want to mince around at 100kts with it a RESCORT - or for that matter, for it to wake up the locals in advance of my arrival. Also, there will be more occasions than not when the UK AH will not have the legs to get to where the Chinooks need to go - these ain't US AH with Robbie and pylon tanks you know!
The Chinook you refer to, is that the one which was shot down after the AH sweep cleared the LZ and then poked off?