Thanks to the standoff in Washington, D.C., President Obama was forced to cancel a visit to East Asian countries, and to not attend of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).

Wonkblog and others noticed this incredibly embarrassing picture of all the world leaders standing on a stage at the meeting, and the U.S. only being represented by John Kerry, who was forced to stand in the back row, and far off to the side (since he's not a head of state, presumably).

Putin, obviously, is loving the prominence.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/photo-of-john-kerry-far-off-in-the-background-at-apec-meeting-2013-10#ixzz2hB02RMaE