The storyline goes something like this: America’s one-time popularity in the world was squandered by George W. Bush, whose belligerence and unilateralism after Sept. 11, 2001 alienated allies and engendered widespread anti-Americanism. But now, with the election of Barack Obama, America can restore its good name and regain the world’s goodwill. One vigorous exponent of this narrative has been Obama himself. “The single most important issue that we're facing in this election,” he said during the campaign, is choosing a leader “to repair all the damage that's been done to American's reputation overseas.” On the day I become president, he...