You’d be forgiven if your only perception of Egypt revolves around its storied archaeology. Our posh, first-rate public education is wrought with tales of Pharaohs, curses and the mystery surrounding the specifics of pyramid construction. Everyone from the Bengals to Kanye West have used Egypt as subject matter, although we still fervidly believe Mr. Michael Bay has a lot of apologizing to do for copping such iconographic locales for the last three-hour GM commercial he directed.

What’s ridiculous, Daily faithful, is just how oblivious we are to the importance of Egypt as a key component in the puzzle of the Middle East peace process.

Until 1979, Egypt and Israel were officially at war with one another. The peace agreement brokered made major headway in the Arab world: Egypt was the first Arab country to recognize the sovereignty of Israel. Repercussions for Egypt included outright condemnation of the proposal from Palestine, a 10-year suspension from the Arab League, and a presidential assassination within the first two years of the agreement.

It also garnered quite a bit of political favor to Egypt from the United States, including economic and military aid, along with support for subsequent governments.

This history lesson comes to you to provide you some semblance of context in regard to the Egyptian protests against their seated government. Tensions have been increasing steadily for the better part of a week, with 5,000 protestors taking up residence in Cairo’s Tahrir Square since Friday afternoon to voice dissent with the government of President Hosni Mubarak.

Political turmoil in Egypt has implications throughout the Muslim and international communities. F-16 aircraft, a gift from the United States, have been flying over the streets of Egypt’s capital in a display of force opposition groups contend is designed to stifle further public outcry. While it’s not clear whether a regime change is in the cards for the Egyptians, what has become abundantly clear is the significance of the suggestion.

Former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made rounds among the major talk shows, suggesting the U.S. is particularly concerned with an ideologically-charged coup taking precedence over the more pragmatic, democracy-establishing tilt of the current backlash. As she told NBC’s Meet the Press, “I want the Egyptian people to have the chance to chart a new future…It needs to be an orderly, peaceful transition to real democracy – not faux democracy like the elections we saw in Iran two years ago.”

Naturally, such sentiments aren’t sitting well with an Egyptian public whose cries for reform are being drowned out with United States military hardware.

The best we have right now, folks, is that we hope the good guys win, whoever they are. Cross your fingers?