Dallas Morning News (article has been updated, so paragraphs are out of sequence):
In a keynote speech at the International Women's Peace Conference on Wednesday night, Ms. [Betty] Williams told a crowd of about 1,000 that the Bush administration has been treacherous and wrong and acted unconstitutionally."Right now, I could kill George Bush," she said at the Adam's Mark Hotel and Conference Center in Dallas. "No, I don't mean that. How could you nonviolently kill somebody? I would love to be able to do that."
She apologized for her remarks today, blaming them on her "passionate" nature.
The Secret Service did not immediately return a call about whether it is investigating the comments.The Bush administration’s response was blunt.
"That's surprisingly hostile rhetoric coming from someone who has been recognized for promoting peace and doesn't warrant further comment," said White House spokesman Blair Jones.
Hostile, yes; but not very surprising. Just over a year ago, she had this to say in Australia:
On July 24, 2006, while delivering a speech at the Earth Dialogue forums, Williams told school children at the Brisbane City Hall, "I have a very hard time with this word 'non-violence,' because I don't believe that I am non-violent." She went on to say, "Right now, I would love to kill George Bush", blaming him for the deaths of children, particularly in the Middle East.Far from being some kind of spontaneous outburst, it rather seems part of her standard stump speech. Maybe the Secret Service could recommend some anger-management courses when they drive her out to the airport.