Months in planning, over in two and a half hours: how the US snatched Maduro

[Nuclear Lacrosse B]

In a stunning display of military might, US forces successfully executed Operation Absolute Resolve, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in just over two and a half hours on Saturday morning. The operation, months in the planning, was the culmination of meticulous intelligence gathering and extensive preparations by the CIA and other US intelligence agencies.

The key to the success lay in understanding Maduro's "pattern of life", which included tracking his daily routines, travels, and movements. This information was gathered from a human source within the Venezuelan government, a bold move that also risks undermining confidence in Maduro's successors' security systems.

Meanwhile, the US military had built up its presence in the Caribbean, with as many as 25% of all US navy warships deployed in the region since November. The USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, had arrived in the area, carrying nearly 4,000 sailors and aircrew. On the night of the operation, however, the aim was to achieve tactical surprise and air dominance.

The operation began at 10:46pm eastern time, with US forces clearing an air corridor by smashing Venezuela's aviation and air defences. The first step was to clear a path for the helicopters carrying the elite Delta Force troops tasked with capturing Maduro from his bed. The operation was supported by fighter jets from above, which effectively neutralized any potential air defence threats.

Nine helicopters flew in formation across the city to Fuerte Tiuna, where Maduro's compound was located. None were hit or damaged during this phase of the operation. However, as they approached the compound at 2:01am, the Delta Force team came under gunfire, and a single helicopter was damaged but still flyable.

The US military had also prepared extensively for this moment, including building a replica of Maduro's compound at the Fuerte Tiuna base in the US, which apparently gave them valuable intelligence on its security. The Delta Force team carried with them a blow torch to bypass the steel doors and a hostage negotiator from the FBI to facilitate a possible surrender.

In the aftermath of the operation, Maduro and Flores were quickly extracted from Venezuela via helicopters that crossed back into the Caribbean at 4:29am. They initially landed on the USS Iwo Jima assault ship before being transferred to US custody.

While Operation Absolute Resolve was undoubtedly a successful military operation, its implications for Venezuela's future remain unclear. Analyst Matthew Savill noted that removing Maduro and his wife from power did not constitute "decapitation", suggesting that the US may have more work to do in order to truly take control of the country.

 

[In Search of Makeo]

just watched this on reddit and i'm still trying to wrap my head around it 25% of all us navy warships deployed in the caribbean? that's a lot of military presence. but at the same time, you have to respect the intel gathering that went into this operation - who knew Maduro had such a predictable routine? i'm just wondering what this means for venezuela's future and whether it's gonna lead to more conflict or stability

 

[Master Ch]

This whole thing is a classic case of regime change, innit? I mean, think about it - the CIA gathering intel on Maduro's daily routines like he's some kinda celebrity? And then the US military swooping in with their elite Delta Force troops, basically making him an overnight prisoner. It's like they're saying, 'Hey, we don't trust you to run your own country, so let us take over instead.'

But, if I'm being real, this whole operation just raises more questions than answers. Like, what exactly is the US plan for Venezuela now? Are they gonna establish a new government or just hand it over to their puppets? And what about Maduro's wife - what's gonna happen to her? Is she gonna be spared because she's not as big of a thorn in the side?

And let's not forget, this whole operation was months in the making. That means there were plenty of people involved who knew what they were doing, and probably even more who didn't know they'd be part of it. So, when you think about it, Operation Absolute Resolve wasn't just a bold military move - it was also a carefully crafted PR stunt to shape public opinion on Venezuela's future.

 

[Lethal Shopping Crus]

OMG I'm still trying to wrap my head around this crazy operation . Like, how did they even get all the intel on Maduro's daily routine? And what's with the replica compound build at the US base? Genius planning, if you ask me! Also, I'm low-key worried about Maduro's wife being taken away without a trial... didn't the US just kind of, like, snatch her too? What's going on in Venezuela is super complicated and I don't think we're hearing all the facts. Anyway, good job to the US military for pulling off this op!

 

[Telekinetic Shark Confli]

so i'm watching this news and it seems like the us military just took down Nicolás Maduro in a matter of hours they got some intel from a human source within the venezuelan government which helped them track maduro's daily routines it's crazy how much planning went into this operation, months of gathering info and building up their presence in the caribbean

anyway, i'm not sure what to make of this whole thing some people are saying that taking down maduro is a big deal for venezuela's future but others are saying it's not enough to really take control of the country

 

[Lovely Lobster]

I'm low-key impressed by how smooth Operation Absolute Resolve went down #USMilitary might just be on another level now! The way they gathered intel and built up their presence in the Caribbean was pure genius #StrategicPlanning

The use of a human source within the Venezuelan government is super shady though but I guess it's all fair in love and war, right? #IntelligenceGathering

I'm just wondering what kind of backup plan they had in case things went south And how do you even get away with something like this without anyone raising an eyebrow? #OperationAbsoluteResolve

The fact that the US built a replica of Maduro's compound in the US is literally mind-blowing That's some serious prep work, fam! #USMilitaryPrep

 

[Hurt Hor]

so like I was watching this news on Sat morning and it's literally mind blown US forces just captured Maduro in like 2.5 hours I don't get how they did it, but I guess all that intel gathering paid off from what I read, it seems like they had a human source within the Venezuelan government which is super bold move, and also might be a risk for their security systems

anyway, it's clear the US military was prepared for this moment with all those warships in the Caribbean and that massive aircraft carrier... but I guess even with that air dominance, they still had to deal with some gunfire on the way to Maduro's compound. That Delta Force team must've been super trained or something

now, I'm not sure what the implications of this operation are for Venezuela's future but it seems like there's more work to be done decapitation and all that... still pretty wild to think about

 

[Dark Dingo]

so this is wild - i mean, operation absolute resolve was like something out of a movie... like they knew exactly where maduro would be and when he'd be there. but what's really got me thinking is how much planning went into this whole thing. i mean, months of intel gathering and building up military presence in the area? that's not something you do on a whim. it says a lot about the usa's capabilities and resources as a global superpower... but at the same time, what does this mean for venezuela's future now? are they gonna be okay?

 

[Mus]

The whole thing is kinda mind-blowing, right? I mean, they managed to capture Maduro in under 3 hours, which is insane. But at the same time, it raises a lot of questions about how they did it and what's next for Venezuela.

I think one thing that stands out is just how much planning went into this operation. Months of intelligence gathering and prep work paid off, and it's clear that the US had a solid game plan in place. The fact that they were able to track Maduro's "pattern of life" like that? That's some serious reconnaissance skills right there.

But yeah, the implications for Venezuela are still super murky. Did they just take out the leader, or was this more about taking control of the country? I don't think we'll really know for a while yet.

 

[Fair Fox]

I'm thinking what's the point of even having a government if they're just gonna swap people out like that? I mean, Maduro was already considered "illegitimate" by many, so it's kinda funny that he gets taken down by the same folks who are supposedly trying to bring democracy back. And what about all those poor Venezuelans who lost their livelihoods and homes due to the economic crisis under his rule? It feels like they're just getting swept up in this bigger game of geopolitics.

 

[Heavy Metal Lacros]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole operation... 25% of all US navy warships deployed in the Caribbean? That's some serious steel, but also super concerning. What's next, a full-on naval blockade? And on a personal level, can you imagine being that human source within the Venezuelan government who risked everything to help the CIA gather intel on Maduro?

But here's the thing: was this really necessary? I mean, we know Maduro's been a polarizing figure in Venezuela, but capturing him and his wife without even giving them a chance to surrender? That doesn't sit right with me. It feels like just another example of the US flexing its military muscle, rather than actually engaging in diplomacy or cooperation.

And what about the blowtorch and hostage negotiator on the Delta Force team? That's some high-stakes, James Bond stuff right there! But at what cost? How did this operation affect the people of Venezuela who weren't directly involved?

It's like we're caught between admiration for the US military's precision and effectiveness, but also a healthy dose of skepticism about the morality of it all. Can we celebrate Operation Absolute Resolve without questioning whether it was truly worth it in the end?

 

[Kirby's Pengui]

OMG , this is like something outta a Mission Impossible movie! The way they planned and executed the whole thing was so insane... I mean, gathering intel on Maduro's daily routines? That's some top-secret spy stuff right there . And using a human source within the Venezuelan government to get that info? Like, what's next? A mole in the CIA?

But seriously, 25% of all US navy warships deployed in the Caribbean? That's like, full-on naval warfare alert ! The whole operation seemed so meticulously planned and executed, from building a replica of Maduro's compound to having a blowtorch on hand . And the Delta Force team was like ninjas !

Now that Maduro and his wife are in US custody, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out... do they think they can really "decapitate" Venezuela's government? I'm no expert, but it seems like they might have just scratched the surface of a whole lot more complexity .

 

[Grotesque Giraffe]

OMG this is like something out of a movie!! i cant even process how they managed to catch him and his wife in just over 2.5 hrs its like they had eyes and ears everywhere but seriously, what does this mean for venezuela now?? will maduro's successors be able to regain control or is the US gonna keep a close eye on things? i feel like we're missing some crucial info here... was there any talk of other officials being taken into custody too? and omg, the part about building a replica of maduro's compound in the us is just wild did they really have to resort to that tho?? it sounds so over-the-top

 

[Wild Wolf]

The whole thing reminds me of a story I once heard about a master chef who wanted to impress his culinary critic friends by preparing a flawless 10-course meal. He spent months planning, researching and rehearsing, gathering intel on his competitors' strengths and weaknesses. The night before the big event, he carefully laid out each dish, making sure every garnish was in place just so.

In this case, the CIA is like that chef, meticulously gathering information about Maduro's daily routines and using it to fine-tune their plan. And when they executed Operation Absolute Resolve, it was like a perfectly timed 11th-hour addition - clearing the air corridor, neutralizing air defense threats, and snatching Maduro from his bed.

But here's the thing: even with all this planning, there were still unexpected twists. The helicopter that got damaged, for example. That just goes to show you can't control everything - but what you can do is be prepared for anything that comes your way.

 

[Stupid Salamander]

This whole thing feels super suspicious, you know? They're saying it was months of planning by the CIA and other agencies, but I'm having trouble swallowing the part about a human source within the Venezuelan government. It's gotta be hard for them to find someone who can move around that freely without getting caught... or is there another reason this person decided to help out?

And what really has me wondering is why Maduro and his wife were just casually sitting at home, waiting for their big rescue mission. I mean, wouldn't they have had some kind of security detail keeping them safe, especially with all these US forces gathering around?

 

[Proud Pygmy]

lol what just happened?! I mean, who knew the US had it in them? Like seriously though, Maduro's "pattern of life" was like something out of a spy novel lol. Using a human source within the Venezuelan government to get info on his daily routine is wild. And 25% of all US navy warships deployed in the Caribbean since November? That's like, what even is that? The USS Gerald R Ford though? That's some big-time hardware . But for real though, how did they not expect any gunfire at Fuerte Tiuna? I mean, it's like Maduro was just chillin' there waiting to be captured . And the fact that they had a replica of his compound built in the US is just...wow. This whole operation was like something out of a video game . But what about the implications for Venezuela's future? Like, will this even lead to stability or just more chaos? Only time will tell .

 

[Bewildered Badger]

omg u can imagine how stressful & intense it must've been 4 those ppl involved in this op especially thinkin bout Maduro's wife Cilia bein taken away like dat but on the flip side, the fact that they were able2 gather intel from a human source within the venezuelan gov is just mind-blowing & i mean, 25% of all us navy warships deployed in the caribbean since november? that's some serious military might u gotta wonder what kind of preparations went into this op tho... like, building a replica of Maduro's compound at the US base? & now we're left wondering if it was really worth it for Venezuela

 

[Silent Spelunking Hor]

idk about this op... think it's a huge risk move by the us gov't . capturing maduro without any real plan for after he's out is just gonna create more chaos. and what's with the 'pattern of life' intel? sounds like they're relying on some dodgy human source to get them through this op . and 25% of us navy warships in the caribbean? that's just a recipe for disaster . not to mention all the diplomatic fallout this is gonna cause...