🔗 Share this article Democratic Lawmakers Condemn Venezuela Attack as GOP Backs Trump Following Closed-Door Session. Top officials from the White House arrived on Capitol Hill to defend one of the most audacious military operations in recent US history: the forcible capture of a current national leader from his own capital. Details of the Raid Disclosed to Lawmakers Key cabinet members, the attorney general, the intelligence chief, and the chair of the joint chiefs informed all 100 U.S. senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, the lightning raid 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 entire chamber heard details of the 3 January attack, 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, finding access 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 Beyond the oil, the operation has divided the capital along predictable lines. Republicans have rallied behind the portrayal of the raid as a simple arrest operation targeting an accused narcotics kingpin. Democrats warn of an illegal act of war that could destabilize the South American nation and establish a troubling new norm for executive power. “What we did is we took out an illegitimate president,” one Republican senator said. “He was never duly elected, so there can’t be regime change 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, transported them to a U.S. Navy ship, flew them to a U.S. air base, and then delivered them to authorities in New York. Days later, Maduro stood in federal court pleading not guilty to charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy. Opposition Doubts and Public Unease One Democratic senator emerged from the closed-door session incredulous, 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 leverage to micromanage the country.” The senator added that they “heard no comprehensive strategy” for ensuring Venezuela’s future 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 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 military presence, financial cost, 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 “manage” 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 little clarity 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 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 national security concerns. “China and Russia are conducting activities near Greenland,” one GOP senator said. “In my view, we have a significant strategic stake in Greenland.” The administration has kept a naval fleet positioned off Venezuela’s coast and recently took control of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, indicating 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 deeds to promote our national goals, and that is on full display.”