There’s no question Barack Obama’s feckless foreign policy created a vacuum in the Middle East, and that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has moved to fill it. It seems pretty evident Obama knows it, too, as he arranged for the two leaders to meet next week for the first time since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine. A senior administration official tried to explain the meeting, saying, “Given the situations in Ukraine and Syria, despite our profound differences with Moscow, the president believes that it would be irresponsible not to test whether we can make progress through high-level engagement with the Russians.” The Wall Street Journal gave the necessary translation: “Russia is blowing up Mr. Obama’s Syria and Iraq strategy, and he’d better see what the Kremlin strongman wants.” That didn’t stop Obama spokesman Josh Earnest from giving his best spin effort, declaring, “I think some might conclude that that means the Russians are … more desperate.” Hardly. Putin knows it’s actually Obama who’s desperate, and he will exploit that weakness to rebuild the Soviet empire. What price will he extract for Moscow’s “help” in dealing with the Islamic State? He already saved Obama once on the “red line” fiasco. Meanwhile, on Monday, Putin will make his first appearance at the UN in a decade, signifying he’s feeling pretty confident these days. And why shouldn’t he with Obama bringing the U.S. to its knees?