Most people wouldn't think that there's anything immoral about private companies using strategy to be better than their competitors as long as they do it through legitimate means. Why should we hold states to a different standard? In this case, the USA would be gaining an advantage by finding a way to utilize an untapped resource. What's wrong with that?

Being able to reduce everything down to an analogy about monkeys fighting over a banana or a dick measuring contest is just the reality of economics. One could even argue that it's an inherent aspect of being alive, at risk of sounding like a social darwinist.