“Operation Absolute Resolve,” the codename for the United States’ snatching of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, was a triumph of planning, leadership, capabilities, and timing. Whether the operation that ultimately allowed for US forces to capture Maduro and his wife in the early morning hours of January 3 leads to something better or worse geopolitically remains to be seen. But the operation itself was a tactical masterstroke.

Under the overall command of President Donald Trump, who as commander-in-chief had overall mission authority and political direction—and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan “Razin’” Caine, who possessed operational oversight and military execution—a joint force of American military units deployed into Venezuela. Among the American forces that went charging into the pre-dawn hours of Caracas’ skies were elements belonging to the United States Army DELTA Force, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) “Night Stalkers,” along with Army Intelligence and reconnaissance support.

The US Air Force, the Navy, and Marine Corps rounded out support functions for this joint strike. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and Space Command (USSPACECOM) were involved, along with multiple other alphabet soup intelligence agencies in Washington.

A total of 150 aircraft were

© The National Interest