Bush confuses Austria with Australia as bin Laden joker crashes party

 

Last updated at 13:44pm on 7th September 2007 Comments (1)

President George Bush confused Austria with Australia and then suffered further embarrassment when an Osama bin Laden impersonater crashed his £65 million 'ring of steel' security.

 

The US president started off his day of disaster when he thanked Australian premier John Howard for visiting 'Austrian troops' in Iraq.

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Bush thanked Australian premier John Howard (right) for visiting 'Austrian' troops

 

There are no Austrian troops there, although Australia has 1,500 military personnel in the region.

He continued his blunders by then confusing the organisations of APEC and OPEC.

Talking at a business forum on the eve of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Mr Bush also told Mr Howard: "Mr Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit."

As the audience laughed, the US president corrected himself and joked: "He invited me to the OPEC summit next year."

Australia has never been a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

His day got worse when an unrepentant comic crashed through his 'ring of steel' security at the summit and said bungling police were lucky it was just a joke.

 

 

Police said the prankster could have been shot by snipers yesterday when he was part of a fake motorcade that breached security at the meeting of members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group.

As part of the stunt - organised by satirical TV news show The Chaser's War On Everything - three cars flying the Canadian flag, with one carrying a man dressed as Osama bin Laden, were waved through two police checkpoints.

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Osama bin laughter: A comic disguised as the terror leader is arrested in Sydney

 

 

Apparently the motorcade stopped voluntarily only a short distance from the US president's hotel.

Only when the Osama character got out of the car did police realise their mistake, rushing to arrest 11 people.

The show's producer, Julian Morrow, denied the joke was irresponsible and said 'lucky it was us and not al Qaeda'.

The team face up to six months in jail for the stunt, which left police bosses fuming. Security protecting world leaders at the summit cost £65million.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the team was fortunate not to have been targeted by snipers.

"I'm very angry that this stunt happened.

"It was a very dangerous stunt.

"We have snipers deployed around the city.

"They weren't there for show - they mean business, that's what they were there for.

A statement from TV company ABC said the Chaser team members were wearing mock 'insecurity' passes, which expressly stated it was a joke.

The latest in a long line of Bushisms

 

President Bush's gaffe today is the latest in an increasingly long line of 'Bushisms'.

Here, we look back at some old favourites...

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

 

"I'm the master of low expectations."—Aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003

 

"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."—Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

 

"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."

 

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."

 

"I don't have the foggiest idea about what I think about international, foreign policy."

Hell, I feel so secure being "his" northern neighbour. NOT!!!

D'oh!!

well John Howard is the prime minister of Australia.... hahahaha the paradox of the article criticizing Bush's screw up. yet again.

 

and another not. GET OUT OF AUSTRALIA GEORGE BUSH!!!

here here - don't EVER come to Vienna again!! :P

here here - don't EVER come to Vienna again!! :P

 

Isn't that what they said to Midge Ure??:rolleyes:

Hahahahaha, I love Chas Licciardello. I can't wait to see this weeks episode! The Chaser will go down as legends for pulling that stunt!

 

In Bush's press release he spelt 'Sydney' as 'Sidney'. What an idiot. :angry:

Hahahahaha, I love Chas Licciardello. I can't wait to see this weeks episode! The Chaser will go down as legends for pulling that stunt!

 

In Bush's press release he spelt 'Sydney' as 'Sidney'. What an idiot. :angry:

 

Did he also mention Sidney's "friend", Mel Bourne??:rolleyes: