It's the near enemy and the far enemy. The near enemy are the ones you want to destroy, while nobody really gets worked up about the far enemy. People can’t get together enough energy to really hate the Taliban, let alone Muslims in general. We understand that what they are doing is bad, but it doesn't anger us personally. When they took ever, we were able to very rationally apply our better nature and our Far Mode beliefs about how it’s never right to be happy about anyone else’s misfortunes.
On the other hand, that same group absolutely loathes most Americans. Most of them (though not all) can agree, if the question is posed explicitly, that the Taliban are worse people than Americans. But in terms of actual gut feeling? The Taliban provokes a snap judgment of “flawed human beings”, Americans a snap judgment of “scum”.
It's the near enemy and the far enemy. The near enemy are the ones you want to destroy, while nobody really gets worked up about the far enemy. People can’t get together enough energy to really hate the Taliban, let alone Muslims in general. We understand that what they are doing is bad, but it doesn't anger us personally. When they took ever, we were able to very rationally apply our better nature and our Far Mode beliefs about how it’s never right to be happy about anyone else’s misfortunes.
On the other hand, that same group absolutely loathes most Americans. Most of them (though not all) can agree, if the question is posed explicitly, that the Taliban are worse people than Americans. But in terms of actual gut feeling? The Taliban provokes a snap judgment of “flawed human beings”, Americans a snap judgment of “scum”.