The last time I spoke with an Egyptian friend of mine she told me that the UN estimates of 300 dead were underestimates. Of course, there could have been 10's of thousands dead in a worst possible scenario ...

I believe her account more than the former Egyptian government's count.

Hopefully the new government of Egypt will take a secular viewpoint and not an Islamic Fundamentalist one.

There is speculation that US threats to stop military aide and it's calls for a organized succession of governments may have pushed today's actions to a precipice.

Egypt is the most populous Islamic country and the most populous Middle Eastern country. With the Suez Canal, Egypt is a critical transportation hub with the cargo crossing being a good part of the world's supply of oil.

What happens politically in Egypt will affect us all.