Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is asserting that the Obama administration's approach to foreign policy is beginning to pay dividends.

In remarks prepared for the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton said Wednesday that after years of war, many Americans are wondering what role the United States will play abroad in the years ahead.

She said the country must seize what she called "this new American Moment" of opportunity to exercise leadership abroad.

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.

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