Shhh. It's a secret, don't tell Obama

What can we make of this?

From the New York Times:

Twice in the last seven days, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have secretly teamed up to launch airstrikes against Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli, Libya, four senior American officials said, in a major escalation between the supporters and opponents over political Islam. 

The United States, the officials said, was caught by surprise: Egypt and the Emirates, both close allies and military partners, acted without informing Washington or seeking its consent, leaving the Obama administration on the sidelines. Egyptian officials explicitly denied the operation to American diplomats, the officials said.

My first reaction::  This is a symbolic payback to the Obama team for helping oust Gaddafi, and for Obama's ill-advised coziness with the Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

In addition, the UAE and Egypt may believe Obama's team is tighter with Libya's radical Islamic militias than most believe, and the U.S. may have been kept out of air strike loop to avoid operational compromise.

John Kerry's pussyfooting with Hamas may have further damaged O's credibility in the region as well.

Allies no longer trust us.