🔗 Share this article Democrats Decry Raid on Venezuela as Republicans Defend the President After Senate Briefing. Senior leaders from the administration went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the boldest military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital. Details of the Raid Disclosed to Senators The secretaries of state and defense, the nation's top lawyer, the CIA director, and the chair of the joint chiefs briefed 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 briefing 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 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 operate in 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 predictable lines. Republicans have united in support of the portrayal 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 plunge Venezuela into chaos and set a dangerous precedent for unilateral presidential action. “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 regime change if he should have never been put in place to begin with.” Sequence of Events and Court Case In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, airlifted 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 “drug terrorism” conspiracy. Opposition Doubts and Citizen Concern One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.” “This is an insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil 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 pushback reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express worry 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 the hell is going on?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to how long this is going to last. We need answers on military presence, financial cost, and what limits are in place.” Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an indeterminate time. “The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capability of our military... but there is no answer about the future plan.” International condemnation has been rapid. Numerous nations have censured 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 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, signaling it has no plans 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 advance our interests, and that is on clear view.”