A classified briefing on Capitol Hill left top Democrats reassured about the intelligence supporting recent U.S. strikes against suspected drug traffickers near Venezuela, yet sharply critical of the Biden administration’s response to the nation’s disputed election.
Lawmakers were presented with the Office of Legal Counsel’s justification for the missile strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, which officials claim resulted in the deaths of 63 suspected traffickers. Despite initial concerns, both Democrats and Republicans expressed confidence that the targets were legitimate.
Senator Mark Warner, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted a significant omission in the legal justification: any mention of Venezuela itself. While trusting U.S. intelligence, Warner voiced a preference for capturing and prosecuting traffickers rather than lethal force.
The briefing, led by high-ranking officials from the State Department, Pentagon, and legal counsel, aimed to address lawmakers’ frustration over being kept in the dark regarding the operations. Details about the scope, duration, and specific identities of those killed remained scarce.
Representative Jim Himes, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, acknowledged the potential for errors but expressed faith in the intelligence community’s ability to identify targets accurately. He emphasized the focus on preventing strikes against innocent vessels, though conceded the risk remained.
Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this confidence, stating the U.S. possesses “exquisite intelligence” regarding the strikes, including detailed knowledge of the vessels’ contents and personnel. Officials assured lawmakers there were no current plans to expand the campaign to land operations or directly target President Maduro.
The briefing primarily centered on cocaine trafficking, with little discussion of fentanyl, a major export from Mexico. The administration clarified the operation’s purpose: to disrupt the flow of cocaine, specifically.
However, several Democrats voiced regret over the Biden administration’s handling of the Venezuelan election. They believe a stronger response following the vote – where opposition candidate Edmundo González was widely recognized as the winner – was a missed opportunity to pressure Maduro.
Senator Warner lamented the lack of regional support rallied after the election, estimating that around 65% of Venezuelans voted against Maduro despite threats of violence. He characterized the administration’s subsequent actions, limited sanctions, as insufficient.
This approach contrasts sharply with the Trump administration’s more aggressive stance, which included sweeping sanctions and a $50 million bounty for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. Even the possibility of the strikes being a pressure tactic to force Maduro’s removal hasn’t been ruled out.
Former President Trump, in a recent interview, suggested Maduro’s time in power may be limited, while downplaying the likelihood of a full-scale war with Venezuela.
The situation underscores a complex geopolitical challenge, balancing the need to combat drug trafficking with the potential for escalating tensions in a volatile region.
