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

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and transported him to a detention facility in New York.

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

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a threefold process 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 “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 Erupts in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent 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.”

Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across northern Venezuela, apprehended Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a naval vessel, flew them to a stateside base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session 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 stealing Venezuelan oil 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 stability.

This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public 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 public opinion echoes 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 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 “run” the country for an unspecified period.

“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 little clarity about what comes next.”

Global criticism 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 targeted law enforcement.

Broader Strategic Focus

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 very keen interest in Greenland.”

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

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