Bellicose U.S. narratives about Russia and China only serve to further inflame tensions.
By Jeffrey Sachs, jeffsachs.org
The world is on the edge of nuclear catastrophe in no small part because of the failure of Western political leaders to be forthright about the causes of the escalating global conflicts. The relentless Western narrative that the West is noble while Russia and China are evil is simple-minded and extraordinarily dangerous. It is an attempt to manipulate public opinion, not to deal with very real and pressing diplomacy.

The essential narrative of the West is built into US national security strategy. The core US idea is that China and Russia are implacable foes that are “attempting to erode American security and prosperity.” These countries are, according to the US, “determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence.”
The irony is that since 1980 the US has been in at least 15 overseas wars of choice (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Panama, Serbia, Syria, and Yemen just to name a few), while China has been in none, and Russia only in one (Syria) beyond the former Soviet Union. The US has military bases in 85 countries, China in 3, and Russia in 1 (Syria) beyond the former Soviet Union.
Recent Posts
Leading Papers Call For Destroying Iran To Save It
February 11, 2026
Take Action Now The opinion pages of the New York Times and Washington Post are offering facile humanitarian arguments for the US to escalate its…
Despite Marco Rubio’s Warnings, This is the Time to Go to Cuba in Solidarity Against the Latest U.S. Aggressions
February 10, 2026
Take Action Now When visiting Cuba, one can see quickly the terrible effects of the almost seven decades of the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba.By…
“Hands Off Cuba!”: Left Groups in Europe Mobilize Against U.S. Aggression
February 10, 2026
Take Action Now Hundreds demonstrated in Belgium in solidarity with Cuba as further mobilizations against US imperialism are planned across Europe.……
Democrats Propose Minor Reforms for ICE — and Record Funding
February 10, 2026
Take Action Now Congressional Democratic leaders are asking ICE to agree to reforms, promising to vote for $11 billion in funding for the agency if…




