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Top officials from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious armed interventions in modern American memory: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Lawmakers

Key cabinet members, the nation's top lawyer, the intelligence chief, and the top military officer informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence 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 U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela before dawn 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, 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

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 simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation and set a dangerous precedent for executive power.

“What we did is we took out an leader without a proper mandate,” 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 Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, elite troops hit several locations across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, ferried them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge 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 reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for an unspecified time 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 wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans 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 is happening?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to the duration of this engagement. We need answers on troop levels, funding, and what guardrails are in place.”

Unclear Path Ahead and International Condemnation

The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an indeterminate time.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still intact,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in great admiration of the capacity of our military... but there is little clarity about the future plan.”

International condemnation has been swift. 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 targeted law enforcement.

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 maintained warships positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no plans to ease pressure.

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