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Top officials from the administration went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the boldest military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his home city.

Details of the Raid Disclosed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the intelligence chief, 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 home in Caracas and brought him to a detention facility in New York.

This briefing 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 seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

A Plan Centered on Oil

Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, creating opportunities 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.”

Political Divide Emerges in Washington

Beyond the oil, the operation has split Washington along expected partisan divides. Republicans have united in support of the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an unlawful military aggression that could plunge Venezuela into chaos and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action.

“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 a change in government if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces struck multiple targets across the country's north, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court pleading not guilty to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

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

“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources at gunpoint for an undefined period as a bargaining chip to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability.

This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed legislative authorization. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment 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, financial cost, and what guardrails 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 “manage” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe 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 called for Maduro’s immediate release, while the U.S. defended the action as a precise police action.

Wider Security Concerns

Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention 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 kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently seized Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to ease pressure.

“Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”