BY LAURA MECKLER

NUSA DUA, Indonesia—President Barack Obama, after almost three years dominated by domestic wrangling, attempted on a just-completed trip across Asia to reset his foreign-policy agenda with an Eastern bent.

Mr. Obama accomplished much of what he set out to do in security, economic and political matters, though he is still a long way from fulfilling the potential for a new alignment with Asia he pursued. And his need to fight for re-election at home seems almost certain to distract his attention from the task.

For almost three years, Mr. Obama has focused on a sagging economy and fights with Republicans ...