That little COINTELPRO militia is going to stop a civil war? Doubtful.

Already is. It's a running joke in conservative circles that any "revolutionary" or militia group asking for volunteers is probably composed of 99% federal agents. That's all you need to stop a civil war. Make the aggrieved or oppressed party think they're outnumbered.

However, they can be a catalyst to blame shit on for a big power grab. You should study police infiltration and false flags - especially at peaceful protests. They do it all over the world. It's standard fare.

You're right, but that's my point. If that group is some sort of fake front composed of federal agents, they're making conservative groups look bad, and giving the media more ammo to demonize them in the press, which will only make moderates ignore any faults in their own life and come out in opposition to anyone who wants to start a civil war.

False flags are used to start war on a false pretense so that it can be engaged on terms that are favorable for the one conducting the false flag. But that doesn't just apply to shooting wars. In the modern era, that also applies to propaganda wars. In this sense, the government would want to win a propaganda civil war before a shooting war begins, so it'll demonize any group expressing criticism of federal policy so that that group never grows to a size that could challenge federal power.