President Trump’s surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday, his first to an erstwhile war zone, allows deployed U.S. military forces to see their commander-in-chief in action. It also gives Trump an opportunity to meet with important Iraqi leaders on their soil.

Given his reluctance to travel outside the U.S., Trump had seemed out of touch with his presidential responsibilities. But now, Trump has corrected that interest in a manner that looks good and is good. I note the “looks good” element here because other U.S. military personnel stationed elsewhere will look kindly upon the photos of their smiling colleagues joining a smiling president in a theater of combat operations. Perception of leadership is an integral part of effective leadership. In that sense, Trump has taken a necessary step toward boosting his own credibility here.