Former Army Ranger and special operations expert Nicholas Irving recently compared a hypothetical capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to the historic Bin Laden raid during an interview.
Irving described the Maduro operation as a “perfect raid,” praising its flawless execution, secrecy, and involvement of elite units like the 1/160 Night Stalkers—renowned for their exceptional helicopter piloting skills. He contrasted it with the Bin Laden raid, acknowledging the latter’s success but noting it had “some hiccups.”
Irving highlighted the sophisticated planning behind both missions, emphasizing no U.S. casualties in the Maduro operation and the use of stealth helicopters maneuvering through complex obstacles. Reflecting on the Bin Laden mission, Irving shared insider insights about the disposal of Osama Bin Laden’s body, confirming reports it was buried at sea, information he gleaned from Navy SEALs involved in the raid. He underscored that the ultimate goal in these high-stakes operations is to bring out targets alive, though in Bin Laden’s case, that wasn’t achieved.