does it cross anyones mind that the civil war (provoked?) is "eliminating the opposition" with fewer causualties to occuping troops. Once the fighting population has been reduced we can then "instill order" and go about our merry way of taking the oil.

does it cross anyones mind ...

Yes, this is about the same that what I suggested earlier,
the only problem is that even with a reduced fighting population "instilling order" isn't likely to be very successful.
Thus taking the oil will happen along the fighting and from Cornucopia latest post this is what seems to be planned.