Clinton's blunt talk praised, scorned

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Critics say U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is too blunt in her foreign policy, while others contend it "makes sense to show some muscle."

Clinton recently compared China unfavorably to Iran and accused the U.S.-backed government in Pakistan of "abdicating" to the Taliban.

She also seemed to say the Obama administration has given up hope of restarting nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. Clinton recently called North Korea's participation in such talks "implausible, if not impossible."

Clinton may not distinguish between her job as chief diplomat and her former post of senator, where "you express your opinion all the time," said John Bolton, a U.N. ambassador under the Bush administration known for blunt talk.

Regardless, Clinton is getting her message out, said Brian Katulis, a foreign policy specialist at the liberal Center for American Progress.

"A lot of this is tied to the fact that she's an assertive personality and she wants to lay down what's her territory," Katulis said. "If she wants her department to be able to get things done, it makes sense to show some muscle."