Implicit in your question is the idea that the reason there was a stronger response here was because of optics—because a large mass of US citizens demanded it.

Implicit in your question is the idea that the reason there was a stronger response here was because of optics—because a large mass of US citizens demanded it. I think a more likely answer is that optics had little to do with it. Attack a hospital and you've got angry hospital administrators mad at you. Attack an oil pipeline and you've got billionaire oil executives and shareholders who have much of the US government in their pocket mad at you. You really don't want to anger people who can buy US elections.