Local police have reportedly found an explosive device in the mailbox of George Soros’s residence in the northern suburbs of New York City. Thankfully, no one was harmed. But the news is disturbing all the same. During the early 1970s, domestic extremist groups launched a terror campaign involving literally thousands of bombings, most of which failed to result in arrest or prosecution. Could we be in for such an ugly turn in our national life today?
For all the rancor of American politics in the 21st century, we’ve mercifully avoided large-scale terrorist violence since 9/11, which was perpetrated by foreign Islamists. This latest development — I can’t say whether it was a botched attack or a sinister warning — suggests that as bad as the political climate seems, it can get worse. Regardless of what you make of Soros’s politics, it should go without saying that he deserves the right to live in peace, and to take an active role in political debates without fearing for his safety or that of those closest to him. I hope law-enforcement officials are able to find the perpetrators soon.