How is that "the biggest fuck up"? What? It's pretty obvious that they had helicopters lying around that they hadn't repainted since they'd been used for UN missions, and they decided that instead of having no helicopters because of two letters, they'd still use them. Not a fuck up. In any way.
I think the problem here is credibility. Just like taking up red cross sign and hiding a bunch of commandos inside instead of the wounded or medical personell. So it IS a fuck up. Buying a spray-paint can and doing some grafiti is 1h TOPS. So - this is a fuckup.
On the other side - as you said - not using choppers when you need them and you have them but because they are "painted wrong"
- is BS if lifes of your fellow solders are on the line. Still - I would have bought some spray-paint-cans ...
Having read the article though and seeing the source - I should add that this is a fuckup ONLY if its actually true... seeing how its coming from lifenews/RT... well... not too much credibility those two.