Line of the day

If people are offended by the name attack helicopters, we can pass a rule and call them protect helicopters. - Senator Colin Kenny

Regular readers will remember that we at The Torch brought up the lack of information about escorts for the transport choppers when the lease announcement was made. Although the CP article containing the Kenny quote above says that the use of NATO escort helos eliminates the need for armed Griffons, I'm not entirely convinced. If ISAF is indeed increasing the rotary-wing transport capacity in theatre, and not just shifting resources around (just because Canada's getting more lift capacity doesn't mean other nations aren't drawing their contributions down - and it's about the pooled resources); and if ISAF doesn't currently have excess attack helo capacity; then NATO forces will indeed need more attack helo sorties to accompany more transport helo sorties.

The real problem is that you can put all the lipstick on that pig that you want, the Griffon isn't an attack helo.

Hence Kenny's biting - and completely appropriate - comment above.