Hi John

I have served in Korea off and on for the past twenty one years.

The Korean War did not end. It is in a very uneasy truce. We have lost people here, both ROK and US, since 1953, in numerous incidents, shoot downs, sinkings, and firefights along the DMZ.

The US 2nd Infantry Division patrolled a sector of the DMZ until the end of 1991. These were combat patrols.

It is still the forgotten war, and the DMZ vets are far too often the forgotten veterans.

Stephen, Dongduchon, ROK

I feel really sorry for the Americans, I cringe every time I hear George Jr. speak.

On a more serious matter it's about time the US elected a new president. Hopefully the Americans will elect someone with sanity to recognise the actual threat and try to reinstate bonds with Europe in preparation for the new cold war that is coming, instead of so disproportionately focusing on the terrorism threat and starting conflicts that will bog down their military for decades.

Andrej, Ljubljana, Slovenia

In reply to John W, Salem, OR, USA.........If 49% of American's didn't vote for Bush how did he manage to get in.. not once but twice? I think that voter apathy among affluent mainstream Americans is the reason. The "moral majority " have no trouble getting the vote out. Seemingly many of the 49% Mr W. refers too are too busy shopping or talking on their cell phones. In less than eight years of Republican rule the world has become unrecognizable to me. Please get out and vote. The rest of the world is counting on you.

Vinnie, Nanaimo, Canada

How can the mighty USA let a leader loose who not only made serious errors of judgment taking them and the allies into a war we all know we cant win and then making a fool of himself during his travels? - The British all got to love Blair until we saw through him but it takes the Americans longer because they are probably to proud to admit they are facing a defeat!
Shades of Vietnam - maybe they should have paid the tea taxes and they wouldnt have been in this mess!

Keith Amato, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, England, Essex

To Kay, USA - I agree with you completely, but it was two German generals who were attributed with saying Lions led by Donkeys. Generals Erich Ludendorff and Max Hoffmann in 1916. I think anyway - well at least they weren't Austrian or was it Australian?

Barney, Liverpool, UK,

Don't be offended by Joyce or Julie. They are like a pair of dogs licking their wounds and snarling off help. When they look back over the past four years it must hurt them far more than you realize. They thought that they elected a good man to the Oval Office and I don't doubt that Bush would make a fine neighbor but that doesn't make them good Presidents. What happened with George Bush is a genuine American tragedy. Nothing can be done with this President. Ever since the city of New Orleans 'disappeared' with Katrina the Congress has been pushing the difficult decisions onto the desk of the next President. Now it appears that Iraq too must wait for 2009. He is a prisoner of the White House and escapes from time to time on trips outside the country. Don't you think that Joyce and Julie are both stunned with this meltdown? Can't you feel their disbelief at the country's disapproval? It is so deep that the country will elect a woman as President for the first time in its history.

Daedalus, Cohasset, Mass.,USA

joyce says We will see if the Democrats nominate someone with enough fortitude to defend the interests of this country in 2008

Don't you mean OFFEND the interests?

pre-emptive strike = offensive!

Dr Paul Recher, Dorroughby,

I can see Blackadder and Baldrick in the picture, but where's Percy?
Oops! He's just left Number 10 on a mission to the Middle East...
Another cunning plan is brewing, I guess.

Ronnie, PARIS, FRANCE

Reply to Maxadolf from Epsom:

Take this as the official statement of Americans that know the difference between 'Autstria' and 'Australia', and that the Korean war ended just a few decades ago:
Pres. Bush does NOT represent me or 'my' America. Hell, 49% of America didn't vote for him ( and I'm sure that's Bush staff statisticians number, so more like 60%).
Bush does NOT represent America nor the majority of intelligent, inquisitive Americans. Unfortunately, we are the minority it seems...

John W, Salem, OR, USA

My, My, such a fuss over a couple of mispronunciations. Sounds like most of you people have bad cases of Bush Derangement Syndrome. I worked to help re-elect GW and would again. With the exception of the Immigration problem, I think he has done a good job with the information he had. He was certainly the best choice over the traitorous snob John Kerry. We will see if the Democrats nominate someone with enough fortitude to defend the interests of this country in 2008.

Joyce Chronister, Heartland, USA

I am saddened by the fact that many people outside the US believe that its general population supports our war- and hate-mongering president. We can in large part blame our country's own wealthy extremist religious institutions - conservative, evangelical Christian churches and their supporters - for Bush's presidency. Of course, apathy on the part of many Americans was, and is, a contributing problem.

Beginning 11 Sept. 2001, many news organizations in the US began, and continue, to censor foreign news that is critical of Bush and his policies. This is a dangerous state of affairs! I learn much about his true behavior from The Times and other foreign media, but most Americans do not access such information.

Let's hope that the next president is intelligent, less dictatorial in foreign and domestic affairs, and willing to stop the senseless murder of thousands of the world's citizens.

Larry, Alfred, NY USA

A Ben Laden's costume is perhaps the best credential to go through checkpoints.
And the presence of snipers means nothing, as the order to open fire comes always from a higher authority.

In the past years, French special forces operating in the North West frontier area, under US TACCON mind you, had him in their sights in two occasions.
Following procedure, they requested authorisation to open fire: it never came.
That happened twice.

Ronnie, PARIS, FRANCE

George Bush, where does one start? How about learning that you are going to AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY and not Austria, Sidney. Where he is invited to 'OPEC' and where he will see the 'Sidney Upra House'.

Kudos go to the Chasers Boys for having the guts to do what they did. They did what they did and it was funny. Simple as that. The Aussie security are just a little hurt because their expensive tax-payer security didn't work so well. They forgot about Osama Bin Laden and his Canadian ways. Maybe it'll teach everyone a lesson, even Bush for taking so many cars to an APEC meeting, where the environment will be worsened.

Sally, Melbourne, Australia

Julie of Jacksonville,
Like your adored President, you seem to have make a silly mistake. This is the website for The Times of London, England: we're not Americans, and we don't have 'New York minutes'. The Times has been around since 1788 - the New York Times was only founded in 1851.
If US voters like you (and their chosen presidents) didn't go around with a world view which is fuzzy to non-existent beyond the frontiers of the US of A, the world might be a better and safer place.

Nick James, bath, england

january 2009 cannot come soon enough.

s, portland, oregon

It's understandable that jet lag could be an issue for someone not used to leaving their own country....

Hersh, Luxembourg,

I think the security forces were there to keep the audience in rather than out.How did this man get to lead the free world?.

Paul , wanaka, New Zealand

Actually, not everyone in Sydney thinks The Chasers are 'really funny'...but that's beside the point. I am a lifelong Sydneysider and I have no deep objection to the APEC Summit being held here. If you had to choose between Canberra and Sydney there isn't much competition. Most people in Sydney got a long weekend and took full advantage of the oppourtunity to make themselves scarce. The only big objection I have is The Fence. Extra police, extra security, some traffic delays - all annoying but we can cope. However, being locked out of large parts of my own city, including the Botanical Gardens and parts of Bondi Beach is a ridiculous and intimidating overkill. Not to say it smacks of elitism ('not having to deal with the natives'.). Apparently they're saving it for the future - who knows what we will be locked out of then?? Probably public hospitals and schools.

Anita, Sydney, Australia

I like President Bush. I voted for him, I support him, and I'd vote for him again if he were able to run. Try to do his job and see if you don't make a few mistakes in pronunciation. Jet lag couldn't describe how he probably felt physically after having flown to Iraq and then on to Australia. For heaven's sake - all of you armchair presidents act like you know the answers to everything and that you can just throw ill thought-out remarks around like they are pearls of wisdom. Get a grip, or one day you will be embracing (militant) Islam the way Bin Laden has directed all Americans to do. Don't think that the militant Islamists are going to go away. And don't for a New York minute think that it's Bush's fault that they have become such a danger to the world. There were dozens of militant terrorist events prior to 9/11. Or do you only remember what happened to you yesterday and haven't the memory for anything more complicated?

Julie, Jacksonville, USA

Poor old George .W , he slips on banana skins all the way !!
I guess he is a bit confused nowadays, stress probably.

Just wondered whether he was colour blind too, well you know it could get confusing pushing a few buttons.!!

maggie snook, wool wareham, Dorset UK

George Bush needed a motorcade of 20 cars to travel 200m to a conference at which global warming was an agenda item.
Perhaps the Chasers three cars was an overkill!

John Gelsthorpe, Adelaide, Australia

That was an excellent Monty Python production downunder. My only concern is that Mr Bush may not be disclosing a second income for tax purposes. When he gets kicked out of the bigger job, we have one for him in the UK when Monty returns to the small screen to perform, "The Life of George, the Bush Before He Was Discovered by Monty and his Pythons to be a Single Mutated and Terminally-Damaged Brain Cell!".

God bless George and America: one deserves the other!

PS: It would be great to have Ali G discussing the meaning of life with George on the small screen. The question is, could Ali G come down to George's level of debate, and even avoid being mistaken for Bin Laden?

PPS: The good news is that it is guaranteed that George's successor, whoever that is, will not inherit any part of George's mental equipment. And that's straight from Bin Laden's camel.

Maxadolf, Epsom,

Every time George opens his mouth to speak, I am paralyzed with fear and embarrassment for what he will say or will not be able to say correctly. Is it January 2009 yet ?

Carmen, Nashville,

Wait a minute... the last time I heard someone mistaking Austria and Australia was in "Dumb and Dumber".... That figures...

How in heavens could the American public be dumb enough to elect him the first time.... and be even dumber to re-elect him...

MY GOD !!!

James F, Malaysia,

Why wasn't it the police and other security forces who were charged with gross criminal negligence for allowing this spoof to succeed. What if it had been a terrorist attack? The clowns are obviously on both sides of this one.

Derek, Shanghai,

The Comedians apparently thought that they wouldn't get past the first security block since their security id's named the conference as 'JOKE' instead of 'APEC'. The also listed their profession as 'insecurity'.

How these were missed by the security was amazing.

Apparently the chasers continued to the second checkpoint hoping to be turned around there...They weren't.

The ploy was only discovered after they decided to turn around and Chas Licciardello go out, dressed as Osama.

GO CHASER'S GUYS! I'LL BE WATCHING YOUR SHOW ON WEDNESDAY....if you guys wanna see it and don't live in Australia it should be avalible for podcast after Wednesday from www.abc.net.au/chaser (if it even goes to air)

Snax, Sydney, Australia

Don't blame Bush. The American electorate composed largely of illiterate red necks should be held accountable for the buffoons they periodically send to the White House especially when the country faces some external threat. And as for Bubba himself, he has given us much to be upset about but also a lot to laugh as well. What would the world be without a 21st century Mrs Malaprop in the White House.

Kishore J Thampy, Galena, Illinois

That figures, because in his mind, there are only OIL , his European Bank Account(s), and his retirement plan.

kris, jakarta,

Most people here in Sydney think it was really funny.The point of view is a rejection by Sydneysiders of small business people and their employees disrupted for a week
by the federal government choosing a working city to lockdown as a showcase and not the capital ---Canberra for Apec.
Also,spent a day travelling to a northern suburb with his 150 vehicle circus blocking of each suburb it went to and return
----to go mountain bike riding!!!!

The only thing was that the State government relucently went along with this shirade.

Gill Whitton, Sydney, NSW

My God, will January, 2009 ever get here? Mr. Bush's ability to put his foot in his mouth continues to amaze.

Cynthea Corlett, Salinas, CA USA

Judging by the security overload in Sydney, the terrorists have won - lock, stock and barrel. Are we now just sheep? Sad really.

Kurt Suma, Sydney, Australia

I hated Bill Clinton when he was in office...

Now when I see him on the Oprah Winfrey show (whom I'm not fond of either), I sigh wistfully and pine for the days of Monica Lewinsky. Now with hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, thousands of dead US service members (some my friends), the dead and wounded of our friends/allies who went with us into harms way, tens of thousands of wounded, and a foundering US economy do I truly appreciate the folly of my ways.

I will never take my responsibility to vote for granted again...

Brian W., Los Angeles, USA/CA

The USA need Help.

Donnie Artis, NEWCUMBERLAND, PA

If Bush doesn't have his teleprompter built in his podium, it's classic Robin Williams, it makes you wonder, as Bush gets lost leaving the stage time and time again, how he found Iraq on a map.

It's rumored, he had the map upside down, and thought he attacking Afghanistan, when he learned his mistake, said well, what the hell, we are there now anyway.

twistedreality, Dallas, USA/Texas

You know the bad part about bush's trip to austria?
He came back. :-P

Dave, pittsburgh , USA / PA

The Chaser team was carrying passes that were clearly bogus and one of the motorcycles had a number-plate "MUFTI". Meanwhile an unaccredited press photographer got clearer pictures of Bush walking from the PM's office than a photographer who did have accreditation and the White House pool crews were excluded from the Opera House or delayed by security and did not arrive at the first press conference on time.

in 2003 we have had demonstrations at which tens of thousands marched with almost invisible police presence. This time police outnumbered those who marched several fold on the grounds shop fronts might be damaged. None was.

Watch for footage on Youtube of a female press photographer being thrown to the ground by police. Would anyone like to buy an unused water cannon?

Richard, Sydney, Australia

Don't blame Bush. The American electorate composed largely of illiterate red necks should be held accountable for the buffoons they periodically send to the White House especially when the country faces some external threat. And as for Bubba himself, he has given us much to be upset about but also a lot to laugh as well. What would the world be without a 21st century Mrs Malaprop in the White House.

Kishore , Galena, Illinois

"In the words of a British General" Lions led by donkeys"."

Alan Clark may have been many things but he never was a general.

John Hall, Turku, Finland

Speaking as a SON OF TEXAS but not a member of THE SONS OF TEXAS, I must observe that Texas was stolen from a sovereign nation by a bunch of radical insurgents who were later aided in their crimes by the United States Army. We should give it back--right away--thereby debarring all Texans from holding office in the United States. It is my staid observation that almost without exception all those who hold high office in that illegal state are both corrupt and imbeciles and that they rely on highly intelligent but highly corrupt handlers to work their greasy will.

You have just witnessed the latest in a long series of Bubba gaffes when the nitwit tries to express himself without a Rovian teleprompter--and it won't be the last either.

Factoid: Bush intended all along to invade Iran--not Iraq. After all, how could one letter make that much difference?

You say tomato, he says tamayter. You say potato, he say tayter.

Murray, Atlanta, USA Georgia

Folks, this is the guy (Commander in Chief) who has the power to authorize the use of nuclear weapons against a country during war. Just hope he doesnt name the wrong country.

stanzler, ny, usa

You're putting the wrong guy in jail! You had a chance to capture a genuine war criminal and you let him go.

Ron Gambolati, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

In John Howards Australia we have lost our rights to free speach and freedom of association, but what is worse we seem to be losing our right to have a sense of humor!

Warwick Hempel, Avoca Beach, Australia

Roll on the elections! Howard is well and truly past his use by date. Time for him to retire to a Home for Demented Koalas! He has presided over the worst administration this country has had for decades. I hope the predictions that he will be defeated in his own seat come true. He and Bush are a disgrace.

Trevor, Melbourne, Vic, Australia

I was embarrassed when my fellow Americans elected Bush the first time. I was so disheartened when it happened again. He continues to prove on a daily basis that he is a only a mouthpiece and when it comes to his own words, he only takes out his left foot to insert his right. Hopefully our citizens will see the error of their ways and vote for an intelligent person who realizes that we are ALL part of the human race.

Rose, Lead, South Dakota, US

Don't blame Bush. The American electorate composed largely of illiterate red necks should be held accountable for the buffoons they periodically send to the White House especially when the country faces some external threat. And as for Bubba himself, he has given us much to be upset about but also a lot to laugh as well. What would the world be without a 21st century Mrs Malaprop in the White House.

Kishore J Thampy, Galena, Illinois

oh wait a minute, you mean he's your President! I thought this guy was part of the comedy act to warm up the audience. Sort of Mrs Malaprop meets the Rev Spooner.

Marc, London,

I don`t know if I could do it any better, but I`m not the President of the USA.

Concerning Austria, I guess the old saying is still true.

"TU FELIX AUSTRIA NUBE"

Susy, Munich,

Are the residents of Sydney such a threat that they have to be locked out of their city during APEC? Thank God for the Chasers bringing this appalling state of affairs to the attention of the world!

Diana, Sydney, Australia

Please, oh please, can somebody tell me, how in the name of all that is Holy, that a total chump like George Bush can become the most powerful man in the World? ... And wreak such total havoc, murder and mayhem on an an erstwhile peaceful country like Iraq - and get away with it?
No wonder the World is in the state it is.
Mind-boggling is so well short of a reaction to this man's blunders.

David Michael, London, UK

This is what we love about our Aussie cousins...

Long may they continue with thier own brand of hilarious irreverence..

Oh, and a picture of Bush in Budgie Smugglers anyone...?

brian bunting, chorley. lancashire, UK

No big deal, the entire summit was a farce anyhow

Dismord, Hobart, Aus

The thoughtless "comedy" skit was dangerous and cruel to the next victims of the next security breach somewhere. Then the South Korean Prime Minister deliberately put Bush on the spot, trying to embarrass him, and make himself look smart. Their mean-spirited jabs compared unfavorably with Bush's correct behavior and self-depreciating jokes at his own expense when he misspoke. I guess that's why Bush is the leader of the Free World and the rest are just a bunch of clowns.

Todd, Valtice, Czech Repubic

I don't see the joke.

These sorts of antics are being played out at many conferences and its just a matter of time till someone gets himself/herself shot. That will be a real laugh.

H, London,

I agree - the comedians should be thanked not condemned, for highlighting flaws in the security measures. What if they had been "genuine terrorists" - would they have voluntarily stopped at the 3rd checkpoint?

M Halse, Coventry, UK

George Bush works his fingers to the bone, gets no sleep, puts up with jet lag and it's a huge crime that he mixes up Austria and Austrailia, OPEC and APEC.

Blah, blah, see if you could do any better!

Allan, Bellevue, WA, USA

Makes a change for another western security service to screw up as badly as the UK's. Just how the members of The Chaser’s War on Everything can be charged for breaking security seems odd when they were waved through by the police cordon. As for Bush, it looks like dementia has finally set in !

Mike, Alicante, Spain

In the words of a British General" Lions led by donkeys". Sad, but true.

Kay Salicornia, San Jose, USA

Shame on the authorities...they ought to let the actors go and apologise to the Australian people for the lack of security. There is absolutely no need to charge these folks with a crime.

Dwayne, Nassau, Bahamas

That's our boy George. Proof that a college degree is not what it's cracked up to be.

Michael, austin, usa

The not so light-hearted take on this subject is that the freedoms that used to hallmark the Australian way of life: freedom of speech, freedom of association and the freedom to pour scorn on bloated puff, have in recent years taken a heavy battering. The impetus behind our Federal and State governments' push to limit our freedoms has been, paradoxically enough, the so-called 'war on terror'. Australia is quickly becoming the antithesis of the human rights principles that it once championed.

Stephen, Sydney, Australia

Knowing what we do about the Australian sense of humour, the possibility of the spoof Candian motorcade being officially sanctioned cannot be eliminated.

Andy The Maniac, Fleet, Hants, UK

I'm tired...can't you all please go away.

Michael Grelis, Melbourne, Australia.

Indeed Bush's gaffes have "famously endeared him to millions of Americans," but less famously they have repulsed millions of Americans more. We the repulsed wish also to be recognized.

John, Raleigh, North Carolina,

"his nine-minute speech was littered with the stumbles and mis-pronouncements which have famously endeared him to millions of Americans."

Umm,,, endeared? , how about embarrassed millions of Americans. You know the ones of us who actually think our president should have a clue and not make a fool of himself constantly on the world stage?

Travis, Tacoma, Wa

They have to thank TV team for checing the security.

Alex, Riga, Latvia

Endeared him to Americans? Are you kidding? He has the lowest popularity rating he could possibly get. We are cringing every time he opens his mouth to speak. What next? Oh, the horror!! Or was that just a (Bush) joke? Can't wait until 2008....

Jillian Cunningham, Boston, Massachusetts

The world's stupidest leader again speaks. We should declare Bush a National Disaster.

Kerry, Tucson, AZ

Is it no wonder you can buy T-shirts in Austria that say "There are no Koalas in Austria"? If it wasn't so pathetically sad that such a tiny intellect has his hand on the nuclear weapon switch, it would be funny. Let's hope that come the next US election, the US population doesn't decide on burden the world with another joke candidate.
When we Australians used to say that someone "has gone bush" it meant that they had disappeared. Now it means they have lost any level of intelligence.

Stuart Prince, Newcastle, Australia

It is a wonder who has the most clowns on their staff- the American president, or the comedy team of "The Chaser’s War on Everything." One team are professional buffoons, and the other are only amateur. I wonder which is which.

Lee, Virginia, USA

Speaks for itself really, bring forth the next elections, and let us pray that the next president might actually do something to improve the condition of his/her people.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

Thats about it , when the establishment make a blunder, jump on someone else.

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain