Washington ( CNN ) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a foreign policy talk to weigh in on hot button political issues Wednesday , slamming a Florida pastor for his `` disgraceful '' plan to burn the Quran and strongly criticizing George W. Bush 's fiscal record . Clinton warned about the long-term consequences of rising federal budget deficits , arguing that they will eventually diminish U.S. power and impair America 's ability to act effectively in the global arena . Her remarks came during an appearance before the non-partisan Council on Foreign Relations . It was her second major foreign policy speech there as secretary of state . Clinton noted that Terry Jones , the Florida pastor , is the head of a small congregation , and said she wished his plans to burn the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks had n't attracted so much media attention . But sadly , `` that 's the world we live in right now , '' she said . Jones 's plans could potentially harm U.S. troops , she asserted , echoing a recent warning from Gen. David Petraeus , the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan . The pastor 's plan does n't represent broader American views on Islam , Clinton declared . `` It 's not who we are , '' she said . Clinton also slammed Jones 's plans on Tuesday night at a State Department dinner in honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan . Jones has so far rebuffed pleas to call off the event , saying radical Islamists are the target of his message . On fiscal matters , Clinton had harsh words for Bush . Cutting taxes while fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq without paying for them was a `` deadly combination '' in terms of `` fiscal sanity , '' she said . She said that rising debt poses a national security threat in many ways , and warned that `` responsible '' authorities on fiscal matters `` are not being heard right now . '' `` There is no free lunch and we ca n't pretend that there is ... without doing great harm '' to the country , she said . Republicans have tried to turn the tables on Democrats in recent months on the issue of fiscal responsibility , arguing that the administration 's fiscal stimulus plans have significantly added to the national debt while failing to effectively restore economic growth . Clinton also expressed frustration with the treatment of sensitive foreign policy issues in domestic politics , urging a partisan `` détente '' that cuts `` across the partisan divide . '' Among other things , she cited the START nuclear arms reduction treaty , which is slated to be taken up by the Senate in September but faces significant opposition among key Republicans . The treaty has become a `` political issue , '' she said , but `` I wish it were n't . '' The accord is seen in Europe as an important symbol of America 's commitment to work with Russia , she said . Turning to the Middle East , Clinton said she thinks we `` have a real shot '' at a successful conclusion to the new Israeli-Palestinian peace talks . Clinton will travel to Egypt and Jerusalem next week for the second round of negotiations . Last week , she formally reopened the peace talks at the State Department , where , among other meetings , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas huddled alone behind closed doors for an hour and a half . On efforts to block Iran 's nuclear program , Clinton said the United States believes Tehran `` is beginning to feel the full impact '' of recently imposed sanctions . `` International financial and commercial sectors are ... starting to recognize the risks of doing business with Iran , '' she told the Council on Foreign Relations . Sanctions `` are the building blocks of leverage for a negotiated solution , '' she said . `` We will see how Iran decides . '' The United States has repeatedly lobbied other nations to step up sanctions against Iran . The European Union , Canada , Japan and South Korea are among those that have done so . Iran , however , is continuing its uranium enrichment activities in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions , according to a report released Monday by the International Atomic Energy Agency . Iran has rebuffed international demands to halt its uranium enrichment program , saying it wants the nuclear fuel for peaceful uses . IAEA officials , however , have not been convinced . Clinton said the United States is continuing to support freedom and human rights inside Iran by speaking out against the regime , and by equipping Iranians with the technological tools they need to communicate with each other and spread their views . `` We want to be helpful , but we do n't want to get in the way of it , '' she said . `` So that 's the balance that we try to strike . '' Clinton 's speech at the Council on Foreign Relations -- which was followed by a question-and-answer session -- touted what she characterized as the multiple successes of President Barack Obama 's foreign policy agenda . It also detailed a multi-pronged process of how the administration is putting the president 's agenda into practice . Clinton said the president 's approach includes strengthening the U.S. economy , `` ensuring we have the resources we need , '' and helping other countries obtain the tools and support they need `` to solve their own problems and help solve our common problems . '' CNN 's Alan Silverleib and Laurie Ure contributed to this report .
Clinton calls a Florida pastor 's plans to burn the Quran `` distressful '' and `` disgraceful '' She warns that fiscal irresponsibility harms U.S. security . Clinton urges START passage of the Senate nuclear arms reduction treaty . Hillary Clinton says sanctions against U.S. are starting to take hold .