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Senior leaders from the administration went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his home city.

Details of the Raid Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a detention facility in New York.

This briefing marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops swooping into Venezuela before dawn to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, stabilization of the country; 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

Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. Republicans have united in support of the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and establish a troubling new norm for unilateral presidential action.

“What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across the country's north, captured Maduro and Flores, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Public Unease

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

“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 control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability.

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required legislative authorization. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment echoes the partisan split on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what is happening?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to how long this is going to last. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Uncertain Future and International Condemnation

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time.

“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer 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 targeted law enforcement.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also narrowing their sights toward Greenland, citing defense 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, 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 full display.”