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Senior leaders from the White House went to Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the seizure of a current national leader 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 the mission, the swift strike that extracted the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, from his home in Caracas and brought him to a detention facility in New York.

This briefing marked the initial instance the full Senate heard particulars of the 3 January attack, which involved U.S. special forces entering Venezuela before dawn to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Strategy Focused on Petroleum

Officials described a threefold process for Venezuela that was centered on 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.”

Partisan Split Erupts in Washington

Apart from petroleum, the operation has split Washington along predictable lines. GOP lawmakers have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a straightforward law enforcement action targeting an indicted drug trafficker. Democrats warn of an unlawful military aggression that could destabilize the South American nation and establish a troubling new norm 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 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, special operations forces hit several locations across northern Venezuela, captured Maduro and Flores, transported 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 entering a denial to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.

Democratic Skepticism and Citizen Concern

One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session disbelieving, stating the administration is “going to take the oil by force.”

“This is an reckless scheme,” the lawmaker said. “They are talking about taking the nation's petroleum resources at gunpoint for an undefined period as a bargaining chip to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future 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 overly entangled in Venezuela. Overall public opinion 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 military presence, funding, and what limits are in place.”

Uncertain Future and Global Criticism

The question of what happens next in Venezuela remains unclear. Leadership has stated the U.S. would “run” the country for an unspecified period.

“The reality is the entire Maduro apparatus is still in place,” one analyst noted. “Everyone is in awe of the capacity of our military... but there is no answer about what comes next.”

International condemnation has been swift. Numerous nations have denounced the operation. At the United Nations, representatives from other major powers demanded Maduro’s prompt freedom, while the U.S. defended the action 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 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 deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on clear view.”