Senior leaders from the administration went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious armed interventions in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his home city.
Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a New York City jail cell.
This briefing marked the initial instance the full Senate heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that revolved around oil: first, bringing order to the nation; next, finding access for companies to enter the Venezuelan market; and a final phase described as “a transitional period.”
“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.”
Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. Republicans have rallied behind the characterization 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 properly voted into office, so there can’t be a change in government if he should have never been put in place to begin with.”
In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops struck multiple targets across the country's north, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a naval vessel, flew them to a U.S. air 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.
One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”
“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources 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 stability.
This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation ought to have needed congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern the U.S. will become too involved in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the political division 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 limits are in place.”
The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time.
“The reality is the entire previous government structure is still in place,” 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 swift. Numerous nations have censured the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. justified the move as a precise police action.
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 very keen interest in Greenland.”
The administration has kept a naval fleet 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 deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on clear view.”
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