🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Venezuela Attack as GOP Backs the President After Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the White House 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. 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 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 brought him to a detention facility in New York. This session marked the first time the full Senate heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved elite American troops entering Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Strategy Focused on Petroleum 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 “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 Erupts in Washington Apart from petroleum, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have united in support of the characterization of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could plunge Venezuela into chaos 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 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 early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then turned them over 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 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 taking the nation's petroleum resources under threat of force for an unspecified time as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no detailed plan” for ensuring Venezuela’s future stability. This criticism reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation should have required congressional approval. Separate surveys found roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become too involved 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 military presence, financial cost, and what limits are in place.” Uncertain Future and International Condemnation The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” 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 capability of our military... but there is little clarity about what comes next.” 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. justified the move as targeted law enforcement. Wider Security Concerns Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention toward Greenland, citing national security concerns. “China and Russia are conducting activities near 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, indicating 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 clear view.”