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Australian Comedy Group Prods APEC Security
ajdlinux writes "Members of the Australian comedy group The Chaser were arrested today after attempting to breach security at the APEC Leaders Conference in Sydney. Chas Licciardello and Julian Morrow were arrested, along with nine crew members (all are now free on bail), just a short distance away from the InterContinental Hotel where President Bush is staying. They had already cleared at least two police checkpoints, according to CNN, disguised as a Canadian motorcade. 'No particular reason we chose Canada,' said Taylor. 'We just thought they'd be a country who the cops wouldn't scrutinize too closely, and who feasibly would only have three cars in their motorcade — as opposed to the 20 or so gas guzzlers that Bush has brought with him.'" CNN has a photo of Licciardello, dressed as Osama bin Laden, being arrested.
These guys are seriously the funniest thing on Australian TV. They are extremely witty and some of their comedy is so well thought out, you really wonder where they get it from. There is some great footage of this weeks episode on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxXAr0R43dQ where they try to see how big a weapon they can smuggle in to a jail, including a rocket, a small canon (disguised poorly as a babies pram) and a tank! Some very clever gags about APEC also. Have they gone too far this time though? With times so security conscious, dressing up as Osama and getting that close to the US Presidents quarters, they are lucky they weren't fired upon! Funny though.
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Their finest moment has to be wheeling a trojan horse full of greek soldiers into the turkish embassy.. (can we park this here?)
I wrote my first program at the age of six, and I still can't work out how this website works.
According to the video, they didn't catch on until one of them stepped out dressed as Osama bin Laden. The only reason they were caught was their completely absurd attire. And the security guys pat each other on the back for that. I'm not sure which part is funniest, but I'm definitely laughing.
It frightens me that there's a very real chance that had castmember Chas Licciardello not been dressed up as Osama Bin Laden, they could have made it all the way inside.
It frightens you? Why?
Perhaps our "leaders" should not have so much security. Might make them concentrate a little more on not having policies which ruin so many lives and drive people to want to murder them, eh?
Personally I think it's a huge shame that I can't walk up to the Prime Minister and argue with him about his policies.
Rich.
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Well, considering the government is spending 170 million on security, which includes a lot of technological crap - such as choppers flying around blocking mobile phone signals, it seems important to note that all you need is 3 cars, a couple of flags, and a fake sticker to bypass all that security... I know it isn't massively relevant, but it is funny.
Just an FYI for everyone out there, the Chaser is a show which is broadcast by the ABC, a PUBLICALLY FUNDED channel here in Australia. They constantly poke fun of security, politicians and current affairs shows (among other things). They are a great example of democracy done right.
For some interesting clips see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs3SfNANtig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnP0snh_1cU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3grHjibNdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BOMOVV2pf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc5xTZGUrRQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GViD0Zwc3Bg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-6F8GN8eXI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwJ9s1RdGhc&
Many more are freely available on youtube and other sites. The ABC doesn't mind you distributing them either.
The news media is just doing what the news media does, trying to be sensational. I take everything they say with a grain of salt.
In the end though was security not as strong as it could be? Probably. But is it as bad as the news is making it sound? Probably not. Well, the fact that you're reading a CNN report on it kinda skews the whole thing - check out http://www.abc.net.au/news for a more Aussie view on it. The Lateline (our country's best/most reliable news program) report claimed that the motorcade pulled up - of their own accord - outside Bush's hotel, and that security wasn't alarmed until Chaz stepped out, dressed as Osama bin Laden. The chief of police then went on record as saying that his boys did a good job, and that the arrest of the eleven people involved proved that the $160 million was well spent.
I'm sorry? Would it have been "well spent" if those cars were laden full of explosives and detonated outside the hotel? I doubt it.
That said, I love the chaser boys; they know a good prank when they see one, and also know when they're crossing the line... not that it ever stops them.
In other news, President Bush claimed victory over terrorism with the apprehension of Osama bin Laden at the Apec Leaders Conference in Sydney today. Osama had infiltrated the Australian comedy group The Chaser, to gain entry to the conference, but highly trained security guards were able to see through the deception and placed him under arrest.