Russia is at war with Europe, even if Europe is too timid to admit this as fact, a retired U.S. General told the Oslo Security Conference. The speaker? None other than Ben Hodges, the former Never-Trump commander of U.S. Army Europe, who’s now sounding the alarm on Vladimir Putin’s hybrid warfare playbook. Hodges isn’t mincing words: Russia’s not just rattling sabers in Ukraine—it’s waging shadow conflicts across the continent through cyberattacks, energy blackmail, disinformation floods, and proxy militias. This from a guy who once criticized Trump but now echoes the ex-president’s warnings about NATO freeloaders and Russian aggression. It’s a stark reminder that geopolitical realities don’t care about partisan labels; threats evolve, and denial only emboldens them.
For the 2A community, Hodges’ wake-up call cuts straight to the heart of why an armed citizenry isn’t optional—it’s existential insurance. Europe’s timidity stems from decades of outsourcing defense to Uncle Sam while disarming their own populations under strict gun control regimes. Sweden’s tightening borders and arming up post-Nord Stream sabotage? Finland’s massive gun-buying surge after joining NATO? These are desperate pivots from nations that suddenly realize paper tigers don’t deter wolves. Contrast that with America’s Second Amendment fortress: our 400 million civilian firearms create a deterrent moat that no hybrid war tactic can easily breach. Russia’s playbook—think election meddling or infrastructure hacks—thrives on soft targets, but imagine Putin probing a populace where every third household is armed and trained. It’s not just about personal defense; it’s national resilience against the kind of asymmetric threats Hodges flags.
The implications ripple outward: as U.S. forces stretch thin in Europe, domestic security demands we double down on 2A rights, not dilute them. Politicians peddling assault weapon bans ignore how an alerted, equipped citizenry thwarted Soviet incursions historically and stands ready for today’s cyber-physical hybrids. Hodges’ candor, from a self-admitted Trump skeptic, validates what 2A advocates have preached: deterrence through distributed firepower. Europe’s timidity is our lesson—don’t wait for the bear to knock before loading up. Stay vigilant, stay armed.
