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Senior leaders from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his own capital.

Details of the Raid Disclosed to Lawmakers

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a detention facility in New York.

This session marked the first time the entire chamber heard details of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, creating opportunities 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.”

Partisan Split Emerges in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has split Washington along expected partisan divides. Republicans have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and establish a troubling new norm for executive power.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never properly voted into office, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Public Unease

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.”

“This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources under threat of force 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 majority of Americans believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the partisan split 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 military presence, financial cost, and what limits are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” 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 capability of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”

Global criticism has been rapid. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Wider Security Concerns

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

“China and Russia are operating off the coast Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.”

The administration has maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating it has no plans to ease pressure.

“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.”