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
As Security Council Stalls, There Are Other Ways to Stop U.S.-Israeli War on Iran
March 3, 2026
Take Action Now A “Uniting for Peace” resolution in the UN General Assembly can counter the Security Council’s failure to act.By Marjorie Cohn,…
States Can Block the Paramount-Warner Deal
March 3, 2026
Take Action Now But thanks to some clever maneuvering, they are already running out of time.By David Dayen, The American Prospect What started as…
Congress, Do Your Job and End This Illegal War of Aggression By The U.S. and Israel
March 2, 2026
Take Action Now Congress must assert its Constitutional authority over matters of war and peace against an out-of-control, rogue president and…
Daniel Ellsberg Speaks to Us as the War on Iran Continues
March 2, 2026
Take Action Now Ellsberg’s voice is back via a compelling new book. “Truth and Consequence,” being published this week, provides readers with his…




