After years of war, Clinton says US must seize an ‘American Moment’ to exercise leadership

Clinton: It’s time to seize an ‘American Moment’

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asserted Wednesday that the Obama administration’s approach to foreign policy is beginning to pay important dividends.

“We are advancing America’s interests and making progress on some of our most pressing challenges,” she said in remarks prepared for a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations. “Today we can say with confidence that this model of American leadership works, and that it offers our best hope in a dangerous world.”

Critics question whether the administration’s foreign policy efforts are paying off, given Iran’s refusal to negotiate over its nuclear program, continued stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an uncertain outlook for a successful conclusion to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The administration also has made no discernible progress in getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.

Last week Clinton hosted Israeli and Palestinian leaders for the first direct peace negotiations in nearly two years, and those talks are to resume next week in Egypt and Jerusalem.

According to excerpts of Clinton’s speech provided in advance, she asserted that after years of war, many Americans are wondering what role the U.S. should play abroad in the years ahead.

“We will seize this new moment of opportunity this new American Moment. We are a nation that has always believed we have the power to shape our own destiny, to cut a new and better path,” she said.