The ‘Deep State’ and the War in Ukraine (Part II) | Jeffrey Sachs

In Episode 376 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Jeffrey Sachs, a world-renowned economist, bestselling author, and professor at Columbia University, where he was the former director of The Earth Institute. He is also one of the most reputable critics of U.S. foreign policy and the ‘Deep State’, especially as it pertains to the ongoing war in Ukraine and U.S. relations towards Moscow since the end of the Cold War.

Jeffrey Sachs last appeared on Hidden Forces in late June to discuss his criticisms of the U.S. intelligence community and American foreign policy. In Part II of that conversation, Demetri asked Dr. Sachs back on the podcast to discuss his central critique of U.S. foreign policy as it pertains primarily to the breakdown in US-Russia relations and the War in Ukraine.

Sachs and Kofinas discuss much of the relevant post-cold War history, including NATO enlargement, the breakdown in arms control, the invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, and why we should assume that America’s confrontational policies toward Russia are to blame for the breakdown in US-Russia relations if America’s more accommodative policies toward China during a similar period failed to produce the opposite result.

00:00 – Introduction

03:24 – Jeffrey Sachs’ “Worldview”

09:31 – Comparisons between Russia & China

12:00 - Neoconservatism vs. Internationalism

19:14 - Mearsheimer’s Warnings

30:59 - China’s Militarization & Russian Counterfactuals

35:00 - The Iraq Debacle

41:00 - Is Everything Really America’s Fault?

43:08 – Should the US have Demilitarized?

45:51 – Failed Assassination of Donald Trump

49:04 – Trump Doctrine

52:22 – A New Way Forward

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Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas

Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou

Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas

Episode Recorded on 07/30/2024

[akap_]

Love Jeffrey Sachs. An honest, peace loving intellectual who is ready to stand alone when everyone else is fully behind the consensus. Takes moral and intellectual courage. His analysis makes complete sense to me. Very precise and fabulous critique. Thanks for the interview.
It’s a little tiring to listen to others who say the same things in sync, with little dissent.

[mahnazqaiser]

Someone please explain to me, exactly what harm has China done to the US?

[dreamingwolf]

It never ceases to amaze me how many objectively intelligent people can be so naive. Maybe it stems from the fact that they've spent their entire lives in academia or in the diplomatic cadre, but for those of us who have had to experience these events up close and personal as the boots on the ground- we know. The entire point of every American misadventure Is the chaos and the uncertainty. You don't outspend every other nation on the planet combined militarily without having to justify the need for such an industrial complex. And the moral platitudes aren't justifications abroad- they're to mollify the electorate at home. "See? the world is in turmoil, we Must keep doing what we're doing!". The only way to remain an economic hegemon is to disrupt potential adversaries from even being able to begin the process of solidifying economic gains abroad. This isn't cynicism, this is literally and objectively what we have done for almost a century, and it is what we will continue to do (assuming political unrest at home doesn't upend stability to the point that we are forced to redirect resource allocations to such a domestic conflict).

[Adamanthon]

The interviewer is miserably biased, very annoying

[nikoskn]

The fact that you said that the US is the best empire that we had showed me exactly who you are. Someone who talks both ways of his mouth. Someone who leaves in America or a rich so far western country and never had the fortune of dealing with America's help. I am from Greece, the birthplace of Democracy and let me tell you how well the US and Europe have stepped on us since 2009. They control every aspect of our society and economy and if someone disagrees, they cut off his funds. If that's what they do to their allies, then how do Russia and China you think feel? You just called Prof. sachs here to debunk and humiliate him. I wish America was the Democracy that I support and believed to be as a kid. But instead, it's a corporate oligarchy that bullies the world. They are no different than the Soviet Union. They just deny things better.

[donaldmedlock]

I bet the interviewer walked away having learned nothing. Sad...

[touzibingfa]

Tbh I'm surprised guests of this caliber agree to come on this show. Demetri is disrespectful and clearly indoctrinated. His forcing the interviewer into sound bytes is more journalist than researcher. Is there not an alternative pod to be interviewed on??

[AntoinetteJanssen]

Thank you for editing the subtitles. This is an enormous work, but offering at least subtitles that make sense, names that can be recognized, etc. etc. thanks again! 👍

[almapraxeda]

Danke aus Deutschland für dieses wichtige, aufklärende Interview, vor allem auch an Prof. Sachs für seinen unermüdlichen Einsatz gegen Kriege und für ökonomisch-soziale Vernunft und Verantwortung.

[marlenesoifer]

I
With all this horrific actions, people all over the world needs uplifting, in my opinion

[aleaiactaest]

Mr Sachs is spot on.
Us needs to make a major course correction, for the sake of everybody.
Let's hope the coming election is the first step away from these destructive policies and world view.

[marsmotion]

go talk to the Venezuelans about how beneficent us foreign policy is as the beneficial hegemon. the prob with your logic there is that the us military has been used for resource taking on behalf of usa banks and hasnt been beneficial to usa citizens security.

[jacaneva]

It's great that you've done this interview but why mess it up by interrupting unnecessarily and then saying things that Sachs isn't arguing? He was very clear in his response and it was structured well. You just messed up his flow needlessly and are confusing things that are clear.

[shalanosara]

This guy ( interviewer) though knowledgeable, seems naive.

[Greg-bb]

32:35
Russia have not enough population to compare with NATO Ally 1/5 but resource Russia have more then enough.
On different side, China have more population and industries capabilitiy with enough natural resource

[aupen]

There is no international order
Actually is American order

[marlenesoifer]

Ok, it is a great privilege to listen.I AM GETTING BLAMED IN TO MANY AREAS NEGATIVILY BECAUSE OF BLACK MONEY GIVEN OUT. I KNOW MY PLACE AND HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO TO FOCUS ON.NO PROTECTION AND PEOPLE ARE STALLING MY PROGRESS 💯 PERCENT. TOO MUCH HATE.I HAVE POSITIVE SOLUTIONS.
P.O. BOX 1, BRYN ATHYN, PA.19009 I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF LETTING GO
THANKYOU NONAME

[CIGAxScape]

... This is LOVE ❤❤❤❤❤ ...
❤❤ RUSSIA also left 500 000 000 000 USD before going into conflict with UKraine ❤❤

[oumerseid]

Prof. Sachs deserves better interviewer than this guy. He is full of bias & distorted views

[juandiegoramos]

Naivenes is to blame: Russia thinks America is a people oriented Nation-State and America thinks Russia is a money oriented merchantile entity. They're both wrong, actually the opposite situation is true.