Author(s): Michael Welch

From its largest cities to deep within its heartland, from its heavily trafficked
airwaysto its meandering country byways, America has become a nation racked by anxiety
about terrorism and national security. In response to the fears prompted by the tragedy
of September 11th, the country has changed in countless ways. Airline security has
tightened, mail service is closely examined, and restrictions on civil liberties are
morereadily imposed by the government and accepted by a wary public. The altered American
landscape, however, includes more than security measures and ID cards. The country's
desperate quest for security is visible in many less obvious, yet more insidious ways.
In Scapegoats of September 11th, criminologist Michael Welch argues that the "war on terror"
is a political charade that delivers illusory comfort, stokes fear, and produces scapegoats
used as emotional relief. Regrettably, much of the outrage that resulted from September 11th
has been targeted at those not involved in the attacks on the Pentagon or the Twin Towers.
As this book explains, those people have become the scapegoats of September 11th. Welch
takes on the uneasy task of sorting out the various manifestations of displaced aggression,
most notably the hate crimes and state crimes that have become embarrassing hallmarks both
at home and abroad.

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