The world watched on in horror as horrific images of the violence - which resulted in untold bloodshed and cries for Egypt's President Mubarak to resign - flashed across their TV screens last night.
At home, U.S. citizens were literally numbed, as they wondered aloud why Washington was so slow to take action or at least call for Mubarak to step down.
Political pundits on the evening News argued that Egypt had been a good friend and a staunch ally over the years - but in view of the eye-of-the-storm unfolding in Cairo yesteday - were quick to lament to all within earshot that "enough was enough".
Power-players on the World Financial scene were a little more complacent about the disturbing turn-of-events, though.
When asked - Rupert Murdoch - was brutally frank.
"The Arabs must take care of the Arabs," he calmly stated for the record on one news network scrambling for answers.
Interviewer "flavor of the month" - Piers Morgan - was inclined to trot out Barbara Walters for her take on the Egyptian crisis.
"You were there at the beginning, Barbara. What do you think?"
In sum, Walters felt that it was the fault of the U.S. for giving safe haven to dictators once they fell from grace.
The legendary News Icon cited the Shaw of Iran - and his short exile in the U.S. - as an example.
The answer in the final analysis?
U.S-style Democracy, of course, assert a posse of opportunists on the hill and elsewhere.
But, during the course of the evening in Cairo, it was evident that U.S. intervention might not be that well-received by Egyptians.
In fact, at one point, one Journalist on the scene - Anderson Cooper - was viciously attacked by an angry mob who shouted their disapproval of reporters and U.S. interlopers in the scheme of things.
"We hate Americans," angry Egyptians ranted.
Boy, were they out for blood.
Earlier in the day, it appeared there might be an accord, however.
At one juncture, the protestors and Murabak supporters set down their arms, and attempted a peaceful assembly.
Suddenly, without warning, a gang of thugs on Camels and horses galloped into Tahrir Square - now known as Liberation Square - and began to whip the protestors at whim and without mercy.
Some speculated that the attackers were employees of the Egyptian Museum - situated a scant distance away - who were bent on venting their anger on the upstarts for ruining the tourist trade over the course of the past week or so.
Once the melee broke out, it continued long into the weary night, in a death-to-the-end battle of fists and brute might.
Although protestors were searched before entering the square, to ensure there were not carrying any arms, the anti-establishment protestors were inventive enough in the heat of the conflict to scoop up rocks and bits of metal and craft them into primitive weapons which proved to be quite effective in lashing back throughout the battle that ensued.
News anchor Brian Williams compared the ugly conflict to squirmishes in the Iraq War.
"It was like a downtown Baghdad-style barrage hit," he recalled to one anxious reporter covering the unfolding drama.
Indeed, both sides vowed to fight for their cause at all cost - in a historical region of Egypt - that Williams referred to as the very cradle of Civilization.
Meanwhile, Washington was inclined to hold the fort - which irked some - needless to say.
When the crisis escalated to outright chaos in the streets, a spokesperson for President Obama finally put in an appearance at the podium in Washington, and urged that President Mubarak step down from his post.
However, the President - once revered and loved by a majority of the Egyptian people - refused to kow-tow to U.S. opinion.
In fact, Muburak was quite adamant that he would not only see out his term, but die on Egyptian soil if necessary.
In spite of the melee - and a heart-wrenching day of turmoil - many Egyptians stood behind Muburak.
"No one can run this country like Murabak. It's like Saddam in Iraq. When Saddam was gone, no one else could run the country. We don't want our country destroyed," one taxi driver excitedly blurted out to one reporter at a high-profile news organization.
Some worry that a "Muslim Brotherhood" will gain a foothold in Egypt if the President is forced out right now - and ultimately complicate complex politcal matters in the Middle East - thus encouraging interests detrimental to the U.S.
Others accused President Muburak of being two-faced.
Critics allege that goon squads comprised of Police Officers in plain clothes were paid paltry sums to fan out into Liberation Square and attack the protestors - beat them down - if necessary.
And, all the while, Mubarak wore another mask to the world-at-large, professing his innocence.
Meanwhile, the military appeared to be attempting to maintain the status quo, if anything.
Witnesses to the events were quick to point out that early on - when the first violent outbreaks occurred - that the the soldiers acted with restraint and only fired-off warning shots to signal their readiness to take action if things got out-of-hand.
At five o'clock this morning the protestors and President Murabak's supporters were still jockeying for power (and licking their wounds).
News agencies have reported that there have been at least five deaths and hundreds injured during the course of the political upheaval yesterday (with no apparent end of the conflict in sight).
News at 11!
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