It's good for the U.S. to call for tolerance and political inclusion, without believing it can or should dictate a government. It is fine to speak out against political or civil abuses on either side, and there have been abuses on all sides. It is an illusion, however, to believe that the recent coup is right, acceptable, proportionate to Morsi's actions, or in any way useful in solving any of Egypt's deep problems.

Al-Jazeera’s rude reception in Cairo probably reflects a perception that has been building since even before Morsi and his political party, the Muslim Brotherhood, won and lost power in Egypt over the past year: that al-Jazeera and its owner, the royal family of the oil-rich Persian Gulf state of Qatar, have been supporters of Morsi and the Brotherhood. With Egypt now deeply divided, those alleged loyalties have cast al-Jazeera into disfavor among Egypt’s anti-Morsi faction.

The news channel Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr saw 22 members of staff resign on Monday in Egypt over what they alleged was coverage that was out of sync with real events in Egypt.

The media is at the centre of the story. The Egyptian army’s ultimatum to Morsi was delivered via Maspero – the state broadcast network that has been a political pawn for three different administrations since the uprising began: first Mubarak, then Egypt’s armed forces and, until this week, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Members of New York's Egyptian community descended on the coffee shops, delis and Hookah bars of "Little Egypt" on Wednesday to celebrate the overthrowing of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi after one year in office.

Every mass protest is based on the same essential calculation: There's strength in numbers. And that certainly seems to be the assumption that's animating the astonishing numbers of demonstrators we've been witnessing in just the past few weeks, in places ranging from Egypt and Turkey, to Indonesia and Brazil, and even Bulgaria. The causes of discontent are myriad, though certain themes tend to resurface.

Pochter’s death, while certainly a personal tragedy for all those who knew him, also reflects a broader loss for the United States and the troubled Middle East. As ongoing violence in the region threatens to dissuade interested, energetic students from traveling to countries like Egypt, both places stand to lose some of their most valuable ambassadors in bridging the two cultures and promoting genuine understanding.

Digital Diplomacy is a topic that, for most people, conjures up images of embassies conversing with foreign governments and broadcasting information, messages and well -- propaganda -- to impact foreign policy goals.