If “making free” means building outside a system of freedom, that’s too expensive. The U.S. tried to build a “democracy” in Iraq but failed.

If “making free” means just leaving people alone do what whatever they want, it’s not necessary. (They’d end up with another warlord anyways.) If the citizens of a free country want resources, why not provide them with a legitimate way to get it? The U.S. could, instead of making hypocrite puppet regimes, fully integrate (with military if needed) the resources they need into her system.