🔗 Share this article Democrats Decry Venezuela Attack as Republicans Defend the President After Senate Briefing. Senior leaders from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to justify one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the seizure of a sitting head of state from his own capital. Operation Particulars Disclosed to Senators The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the top military officer informed all 100 U.S. senators on the mission, the swift strike that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his Caracas residence and brought him to a New York City jail cell. This briefing marked the first time the entire chamber heard particulars of the early January operation, which involved U.S. special forces swooping into Venezuela in the pre-dawn hours to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. A Plan Centered on Oil Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on 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.” 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 portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. 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 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 in power to begin with.” Sequence of Events and Court Case In the early morning hours, elite troops struck multiple targets across northern Venezuela, apprehended 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 appeared before a judge pleading not guilty to charges including “drug terrorism” conspiracy. Democratic Skepticism and Citizen Concern One Democratic senator emerged from the confidential briefing incredulous, stating the administration is “going to take the oil through military might.” “This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources under threat of force for an unspecified time as leverage to control the nation's affairs.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s stability. This pushback reflects wider citizen anxiety. Polls indicate a majority of Americans believe the operation ought to have needed congressional approval. Separate surveys found about 75% express concern the U.S. will become overly entangled 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 troop levels, funding, and what guardrails are in place.” Unclear Path Ahead and Global Criticism The question of the next steps in Venezuela remains murky. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” 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 capability of our military... but there is no answer about what comes next.” Global criticism 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. Broader Strategic Focus Republican lawmakers are also turning their attention 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 took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling it has no intention to reduce its stance. “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 clear view.”