U.S. jets have struck at Libyan targets, even after NATO takeover
The U.S. fighter jets have been assigned to NATO, Lapan told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday, and NATO does not have to ask the United States for permission to use the aircraft. Lapan indicated he was disclosing the missions for the first time, and said he simply had not been asked about them before.
NATO, however, does have to ask for permission to use aircraft such as A-10s and AC-130s to strike targets like Libyan armor and troops on the ground in an effort to protect civilians from attack.
Have we ever given another country, much less a multinational organization, operational control over our forces?
US forces under foreign control/command is nothing new.
The US aircraft currently flying are in a support role. They will be firing AGM-88 HARM where needed to suppress any activation of Libyan radars. Most of the fixed radar sites will have been destroyed, but there is the threat from mobile missile systems.