Unlike Bush, he sees Europe as a part of the American/world polity, and as such he recognizes that Europe must not be ignored. But he also understands that his power -- America's power -- rests primarily on other countries' willingness to surrender their own individual interests to those of the larger group's, which are ultimately America's interests. So expect to see Obama surrender minor, but high profile, American interests to further global goals in exchange for the surrender of major interests of other world powers. That's how community organizers do their jobs.
America's interests.
Do you see any US interests superior to energy security? "Any economic unit can emit money. The serious problem is to get it accepted" Hyman Minsky
Other priorities, in which, as an empire, the US faces rather unique challenges, is to guarantee the individual liberty of its citizens and residents, which includes the liberty to make mistakes, break rules, and perform immoral acts in private. No imperial power has been very good at protecting these rights, historically, and I think this is ultimately more important than energy security.
