Clinton's "muscular" foreign-policy address: "Iran... Time is running out!"

The CABLE, here

"... According to excerpts of her prepared remarks that were shared with Foreign Policy, Clinton plans to say that "the international agenda today is unforgiving," with the United States facing "two wars, conflict in the Middle East, ongoing threats of violent extremism and nuclear proliferation, global recession, climate change, hunger and disease, and a widening gap between rich and poor."...

But a key theme of Clinton's speech appears to be defending the administration's pursuit of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, despite widespread international outrage .....

All the administration's special envoys, including Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell and special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, are expected to attend the speech....

The address will lay out an ambitious and wide-ranging foreign-policy agenda, ...... Notably, the secretary plans to "stand up for human rights everywhere." ...."Smart power counsels that we lead with diplomacy, even in the case of nations with whom we disagree," Clinton is expected to say, in a clear reference to Iran. "We cannot be afraid or unwilling to engage. Yet some suggest that this is a sign of weakness or naiveté -- or acquiescence to these countries' repression of their own people. That is wrong. The president and I believe that refusing to talk to countries rarely punishes them. And as long as engagement might advance our interests and our values, it is unwise to take it off the table."

Citing the case of Libya, which abandoned its unconventional weapons programs under U.S. pressure, Clinton plans to suggest that engagement can yield tangible benefits, even if Iran does not reciprocate U.S. overtures. "Negotiations can provide insight into regimes' calculations and the possibility -- even if it seems remote -- that a regime will, eventually, alter its behavior in exchange for the benefits of acceptance into the international community." And she will issue what appears to be a pointed warning of the potential consequences for Tehran of rebuffing U.S. demands. "Exhausting the option for dialogue is also more likely to make our partners more willing to exert more pressure should persuasion fail."

In a direct message to "foes and would-be foes," Clinton plans to say: "You should know that our focus on diplomacy and development is not an alternative to our national security arsenal. You should never see America's willingness to talk as a sign of weakness to be exploited. We will not hesitate to defend our friends and ourselves vigorously when necessary with the world's strongest military."

Clinton's prepared remarks underscore Obama's recent suggestion that Iran has until September to respond to U.S. offers to negotiate, or face unspecified consequences. Administration officials have suggested in numerous recent venues that they will pursue the attempted engagement track with Iran until the end of the year, but with diminisihed expectations that it will succeed. After December, they believe that they have increased likelihood of international support, in particular from Russia, for a more aggressive sanctions regime. ..."