Is the implication that oil supply has much to do with Syria? I understand Russian natgas companies have some pipelines that traverse the country into Turkey and their eventual customers and Europe, but I'm failing to see what that has to do with oil and the US. The US gets most of its oil from Canada.
Yes, it would be more apt to just admit the feds consider that their playground and don't want someone else playing there. (probably the US fed people doing it want 'democracy' and the Russia people doing it want 'stability' but the exact ideology is unimportant since neither is really acting in accordance with that ideology so much as just stirring the pot)