Who is the Imperialist Now?

This Washington Post article debunks the long-held prejudices of communists and leftist liberals the world over against America: that America is not an imperialist (a typical communist line of attack) and that the war in Iraq (contrary to the anti-war, America-is-an-occupier charge by the liberal left) has in fact paved the way for economic globalization. The article, entitled, “Risk-tolerant China Investing Heavily in Iraq as U.S. Companies Hold Back,” begins by saying that even though China and other countries did not participate in establishing peace and security in Iraq, they have started to take advantage of a potentially profitable business climate there:

China didn't take part in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq or the bloody military battles that followed. It hasn't invested in reconstruction projects or efforts by the West to fortify the struggling democracy in the heart of the Middle East.

But as the U.S. military draws down and Iraq opens up to foreign investment, China and a handful of other countries that weren't part of the "coalition of the willing" are poised to cash in. These countries are expanding their foothold beyond Iraq's oil reserves -- the world's third largest -- to areas such as construction, government services and even tourism, while American companies show little interest in investing here.

Granted that American businessmen are wary of Iraq’s security situation and have not cashed in (another lesson for the communists: in the world of free markets, investments are private decisions made not by governments but by private investors), nevertheless, this whole matter should not be treated only as a question of risk tolerance. It is a question of national character (or lack thereof), not to mention comity and friendship that nations belonging to the so-called community of nations must observe. There is no such thing as free lunch. If these countries want to do business in Iraq, they must at least help underwrite its security. It is, as they should know by now, a (pre)requisite for profitable investments and economic development.

But if they would rather talk principles, they should begin with this question: who is the imperialist now?