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Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest armed interventions in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital.

Details of the Raid Revealed to Senators

Key cabinet members, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and transported him to a New York City jail cell.

This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard details of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “one of transition.”

“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” one official stated. “We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.”

Political Divide Emerges in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has split Washington along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and establish a troubling new norm for executive power.

“What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces hit several locations across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for an unspecified time as leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.

This criticism reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required legislative authorization. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion mirrors the political division on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what limits are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.”

International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as targeted law enforcement.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing national security concerns.

“China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a very keen interest in Greenland.”

The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance.

“Our military is prepared to continue this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of action to advance our interests, and that is on clear view.”