The one thing that Putin is doing brilliantly is wiping out the non-ISIS opposition to Assad first. Since they are weak anyway, it can be done easily and quickly. Then the only opposition to Assad is ISIS and the whole world will support him when he goes after them. In the end, Assad survives, Russia has a secure client state in the Middle East, has enormous military, diplomatic and political capital in the region, and is loved by world for getting it.
He’s playing Chess, while Obama is playing Tiddly-Winks (he isn’t even qualified to play Checkers)