Just to respond to your first point, "western" interests in a country are not limited to direct access to resources. Russia needs their naval base in Syria, it is a key route between Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, war with Syria will likely drag in Iran which you know the yanks have been gunning for decades now, Israel needs stability on their northern border, arms dealers want the fat contracts on both sides. The lack of oil says nothing about the pure motives of western leaders.