US: Although they eluded Congress soldiers did a fantastic job seizing Maduro Warner
US: While praising the military for accomplishing the mission without American fatalities, a senior Democratic senator said that the US operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was conducted out without the necessary congressional approval and might create a dangerous precedent.
The head of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Mark Warner, said that US agents “brilliantly” removed Maduro from his home and placed him under US custody. Warner said that the Venezuelan people had decisively voted against Maduro in 2024 and characterized him as an oppressive leader.
However, Warner, who is also the Senate India Caucus co-chair, told reporters here that there were significant strategic and constitutional issues with the manner the operation was justified and approved.
He said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio only made an effort to contact him after the raid had already started and that Congress had not been briefed prior to the attack. According to Warner, it goes against conventional wisdom, especially when it comes to acts involving the use of armed force.
“Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution,” Warner said, adding that even in cases when secrecy is necessary, significant military operations are supposed to be addressed beforehand with legislators.
Warner disagreed with the administration’s assertion that the operation was equivalent to carrying out an arrest order.
He said, “You don’t send Delta Force to execute a warrant.” “You don’t take off 150 planes. A naval armada is not kept off a nation’s shore for months at a time. The smell test is not passed by it.
He cautioned that if other nations copied the reasoning behind the Maduro seizure, it may have far-reaching effects.
Warner questioned, “What stops Vladimir Putin from claiming that the president of Ukraine violated Russian law if any country can claim its laws permit it to seize another country’s leader?” He also mentioned China’s long-standing assertion that Taiwan is a part of China.
“There is no international order left if we accept this standard,” he said.
Warner questioned the administration’s claimed intentions, claiming that control of oil resources seemed to be the operation’s primary motivation rather than counter-narcotics considerations.
He expressed concern about the idea that US military would be stationed in Venezuela to protect oil infrastructure. Warner contrasted the scenario to the US invasion of Iraq, in which there was no evidence that the expenses would be compensated by oil profits.
He said, “We’ve seen this movie before.”
Warner questioned how long the US may stay engaged, stating that Venezuela’s oil infrastructure has been severely damaged and would take years to repair.
Additionally, he criticized the administration for interacting with Maduro-loyal temporary authorities while seemingly ignoring Venezuela’s democratic opposition, notably opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Warner claimed Maduro should now be put on trial in the US despite his criticism.
Warner said, “He’s a bad guy.” “He put Venezuela in a bind.” He ought to be held responsible.
However, Warner said that openness and conformity to constitutional standards are prerequisites for accountability.
He said, “Our military did its job.” “The administration must now respond to some extremely challenging questions.”