The president should also encourage his European counterparts to sign off on America’s joint efforts with Pakistan to eliminate militant sanctuaries and Taliban and al Qaeda strongholds. These bases support the insurgents’ efforts in Afghanistan. It’s all part of the same fight -- one the free world can’t afford to lose.

Meanwhile, Obama should insist that our European allies do more to help rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Despite years of talks, Iran’s president still insists Israel should be, “wiped out from the map.” As if to make good on that pledge, Tehran is racing ahead with its nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile programs.

What good is popularity unless it helps convince Germany to join the U.S. in increasing sanctions on the rogue Iranian regime? Last year alone, German exports to Iran increased by 10 percent. Berlin became Iran’s largest trading partner even as it was leading the “EU three” talks supposedly aimed at preventing a nuclear Iran.

Germany can’t be both Iran’s trading buddy and its weapons denier. Obama should press the country to do the right thing and stop propping up Iran’s dangerous leadership.

High popularity ratings are helpful to any politician. But they should be a means to an end -- not an end in and of themselves.

After two trips to Europe, Barack Obama clearly enjoys widespread popularity there. Now comes the difficult part: converting that political capital into policy successes. History will judge him on how effectively he does that, and it tends to be a harsher critic than any popularity poll.