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Top officials from the administration arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious armed interventions in modern American memory: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his home city.

Operation Particulars Revealed to Senators

The secretaries of state and defense, the attorney general, the CIA director, and the top military officer briefed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the swift strike that removed the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought 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 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 was centered on oil: first, stabilization of the country; next, finding access for companies to enter 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 expected partisan divides. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the characterization of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Opposition party members warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation 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 duly elected, so there can’t be regime change if he should have never been in power to begin with.”

Operational Timeline and Court Case

In the pre-dawn operation, special operations forces struck multiple targets across the country's north, apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them to a naval vessel, airlifted them to a stateside base, and then turned them over to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro appeared before a judge 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 reckless scheme,” 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 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 roughly three-quarters express worry the U.S. will become overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall sentiment mirrors the partisan split on Capitol Hill.

“Across America, people are just saying what is happening?” a senior Democratic leader stated. “We need answers as to how long this is going to last. 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 “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 no answer 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 a precise police action.

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 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 ease pressure.

“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 full display.”