And yet the irony is lost on them

The WaPo picked up the dripping irony up front:

MUNICH — In an unusual joint appearance overseas, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told European allies Saturday that Washington would depend more heavily on them to tackle a litany of political and security crises, even as the two pushed back against concerns that the Obama administration was abdicating leadership on the same issues.

That's not "leading from the rear," it's running to the rear! So it's time for a caption contest!

"I don't know, John, I think that hitting five beer cellars tonight might be a
little too ambitious. But you're paying, right?"