🔗 Share this article Democrats Decry Venezuela Attack as GOP Backs the President Following Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious military operations in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a sitting head of state from his own capital. Details of the Raid Revealed to Senators Key cabinet members, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and transported him to a New York City jail cell. This briefing marked the initial instance the full Senate heard details of the 3 January attack, which involved elite American troops swooping into Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Strategy Focused on Petroleum Officials described a three-phase plan for Venezuela that was centered on oil: first, bringing order to the nation; 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 split Washington 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. Opposition party members warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation 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 put in place to begin with.” Sequence of Events and Legal Proceedings In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a U.S. Navy ship, 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 entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy. Democratic Skepticism 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 insane plan,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources at gunpoint for an unspecified time as a bargaining chip to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability. This pushback reflects broader public unease. Polls indicate a significant portion of the public believe the operation ought to have needed 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 is happening?” 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.” Uncertain Future and Global Criticism The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “manage” the country for an unspecified period. “The reality is the entire previous government structure is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer about what comes next.” International condemnation has been rapid. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded 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 defense 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 plans to reduce its stance. “Our military is ready to persist in this,” a senior defense official told reporters. “We are an administration of deeds to advance our interests, and that is on full display.”