Aussie comedy troupe rides 'Canadian' motorcade through APEC summit security

[buzzard]

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007/09/06/apec-comedy-motorcade.html

"Members of an Australian comedy TV show, one dressed as Osama bin Laden, drove a Canadian-flagged motorcade through two security checkpoints in Sydney Thursday before being stopped near a hotel where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying."


What were they thinking, I think this was a stupid stunt and am not to thrilled they used our flag.

[Kagemusha]

1. ...Let me guess, Canadians are so unthreatening, no one would suspect?

That's sad, funny, and definitely wrong. But nonetheless sad and funny in a pathetic kind of way.

[tabasco]

5. Unthreatening is a virtue.

I would like to live in a country that is "not threatening" to others.

[Marrah_G]

8. Sad but true

Although I would not want to be on the bad side of an entire nation of pissed off Canadians.

[partylessinOhio]

2. I think it was hysterical! Bravo! Show * up for the fool he is.

SYDNEY: Comedy group rides fake motorcade through Pacific Rim summit security

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Members of an Australian TV comedy show, one dressed as Osama bin Laden, drove through two security checkpoints today before being stopped near the Sydney hotel where President Bush is staying.

The stunt embarrassed Sydney police who have imposed the tightest security measures in city history for a summit of leaders from Pacific Rim countries, including Bush.

Police arrested 11 cast and crew from the TV program, "The Chaser's War on Everything," and impounded three vehicles, the Australian Broadcasting Corp., which airs the show, said on its Web site.

Cast members put together a sham motorcade, hiring two motorcycles and three large cars on which they put Canadian flags. Police waved the motorcade through two checkpoints before pulling it over near the Intercontinental Hotel where Bush is staying.

Cast member Chas Licciardello got out of the car dressed in a white tunic and cap and wearing a long fake Osama bin Laden-style beard. ...

http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/news/psydney_comedy_group_rides_fake_motorcade_through_pacific_rim_summit_securi/

[Canuckistanian]

3. I think it's hilarious

Actually, I think it's quite telling that the vehicles were waved through.

Obviously, the cops had no schedules and no communications with the motorcade. They simply saw an "official" looking motorcade and let them through. Because everyone knows that terrorists don't drive luxury cars.

[Swagman]

4. they proved a very important point

that despite the rhetoric and heavy handed cops who have been demonisng protestors before they have even protested-that if you look the correct way you can get away with murder. These guys could have been an assasination squad.

They showed up the bloody useless cops and the scumbag politicians who have spent months libelling anti-APEC and Bush protestors nonstop and acting like their tough guys. These cops have been hassling German tourists for photographing a rediculous steel fence that has ringed the city..they have been demanding that office workers not look up into the sky at helicoptors..they have made city residents produce ID to how they live in the city..they have unlawfully banned known demo organisers from entering the city.

This act by The Chaser crew showed up the authorities and politicians for being utterely hopeless about security .

But apologies to the Canadians !!!!

[DaveJ]

9. I'd probably prefer bossy cops

Compared to having the highest incaeration rate in the world. U.S.'s 715 per 100,000 vs 116.

Cool Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita

(Sorry if this is a little OT)

[Canuckistanian]

10. I certainly take no offense at it

I too, think these summit security measures are getting more draconian. And what happened at the recent summit here in Quebec showed almost criminal behavior. This is going beyond protection and bordering on harassment.

We hosted the APEC summit in Vancouver in 1997 and an incident where the RCMP used pepper spray without warning caused great dismay here in Canada. There were even parliamentary inquiries and a high-profile resignation over it.

Any chance to humiliate these authoritarians gets my respect.

[Babsbrain]

6. priceless! sleep well bushie.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. "Chasers" has done this sort of thing before. (See YouTube and our own video forum)

...