Was Clinton too verbally hard on Pakistan?

Over at FP‘s Shadow Government blog (“notes from the loyal opposition”), some people think Secretary Clinton laid the smack down too hard:

• Peter Feaver thinks that when Clinton said the Pakistani government was “abdicating” to the Taliban, she stated her views “undiplomatically.”
• My colleague Christian Brose thinks Clinton should be holding her tongue when it comes to publicly criticizing Pakistan.

As a woman, does Clinton feel pressure to come on hard and tough? If she hadn’t spoken out when the Taliban were a mere 60 miles from the Pakistani capital, would some have perceived her as too soft?

I’m pressed for time today, unfortunately, so here’s one more link and Secretary Clinton’s schedule:

• “Obama-Clinton proves a winning team” (CNN.com)

11:30 a.m. Signing Ceremony with His Excellency Cristian Diaconescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images