WASHINGTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito says after a closed-door briefing Wednesday on the U.S. military action that resulted in the arrest of Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro, she’s even more convinced the right action was taken.
Capito and other members of Congress were part of a classified briefing. He said she came away most impressed with how the military executed the plan.
“When it all comes out…it’s just unbelievable how we were able to do this with minimal damage and get out and bring him to justice and his wife to justice,” Capito said Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Capito said she considers what took place a law enforcement action with the protection of the military.
“This was an arrest. This was not a military exercise. They needed the military assets to protect our own people, to make a successful, an incredible snatch out of one of their largest military bases,” Capito said. “I feel satisfied that this is not about war powers, this is about a law enforcement action to apprehend a criminal that is killing people in the United States.”
The West Virginia Democratic Party is among groups that have criticized the move.
“This is not about stemming the flow of drugs into the United States. If it were, his focus would be on Colombia, China or even Mexico — countries that play a vastly greater role in the drug trade affecting our communities,” the party said in a statement earlier this week. “This is about regime change. It is about enriching oil corporations and billionaires while ordinary Americans pay the price.”
Capito said Wednesday being involved in Venezuela is not just good for American interests but the interests of the region.
“It’s about who is taking over Venezuela, the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians, these are rogue actors, the Cubans, that want to destroy America,” she said.
Capito said President Trump is willing to make risky decisions.
“And this was a risky decision,” she said. “A risky decision to protect Americans.”
Greenland
President Trump has said the U.S. needs Greenland and has talked about purchasing the island. Denmark, which watches over Greenland, has told the U.S. to back off.
Capito said the Arctic is a very critical region and superiority of it is “extremely important” to the security of the U.S.
“I think Greenland is very important strategically, I don’t think we will be putting military assets to grab it. I think maybe increasing our cooperation, increasing our presence, I hope these are the conversations that are taking place right now,” Capito said.