Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Donald Trump is said to be "ready to push the button" on military strikes against Iran, after the U.S. and U.K. withdrew personnel from bases in the Middle East.

The U.S. president has been mulling direct action against Iran, amid ongoing and widespread protests in the country calling for an end to the Ayatollah's regime. Trump has warned there would be "hell to pay" if protesters were killed, but has yet to act despite reports of a death toll now topping 2,500.

A Washington source close to the U.S. administration told The Independent that strikes could be carried out within the next 24 hours.

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"It comes as the U.K. closed its embassy in Tehran while other European countries urge residents to flee. Tehran has also closed its airspace to all flights, except those with previous permission from the Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation.

"President Trump is ready to push the button on Iran," the source said. "It will be a surgical removal of the regime."

';

"The one thing that the president is waiting on is that the Iranian banks are on the point of collapse which means the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and others will not get paid once that happens," they added.

"If that happens, then the regime will collapse by itself and the president is waiting on that " but he will not wait long."

It comes as the U.S. withdrew personnel from its Al-Udeid air base in Qatar on Wednesday, the Middle East's largest U.S. base housing around 10,000 troops. One official told Reuters the decision was a precaution given heightened regional tensions."

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-14 07:10 PM | Reply

It might help if we could blast messages into Iran via, say Radio Free Europe. Good think President Piggy got rid of that.
Oh well.

#2 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-14 07:18 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"It will be a surgical removal of the regime."

So, America is back in the regime change business.

Wait, did Congress authorize this?

I bet no.

#3 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-14 07:19 PM | Reply

Anything to distract from the Epstein files.

#4 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-14 07:20 PM | Reply

@#2 ... say Radio Free Europe ...

Maybe you mean Voice of America?

Regardless, good observation.

(reminds me, I should fire up my HF radio and listen to VoA for a while ...)



#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-14 07:37 PM | Reply

BREAKING: U.S. Launching WAR Against IRGC In Iran - LIVE Coverage

Tousi TV
1.34M subscriber

www.youtube.com

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-14 07:39 PM | Reply

Hasn't it been like, just six months since Trump bombed Iran?

They didn't get the memo?

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-14 07:43 PM | Reply

#6 - this guy has a cool Air Space map simulator channel on over Iran

#8 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-14 07:45 PM | Reply

Trump Says Iran Halts Executions But Doesn't Take Military Action Off The Table
www.rferl.org

... Iran has stayed executions of protesters, President Donald Trump said quoting "very important sources on the other side," but tensions remained high across the Middle East as the possibility of US military action against Tehran remains.

"They've said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place -- there were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won't take place -- and we're going to find out," Trump reporters at the White House on January 14.

"We've been told on good authority, and I hope it's true." ...


#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-14 07:49 PM | Reply

Trump bombed 7 countries in 2025.

Which is weird because I swear the "Hillary started the Iraq war" crowd seems awfully quiet about the fact Trump isn't the peace president they claimed he was.

Thank goodness FIFA gave him that participation trophy.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-01-14 07:52 PM | Reply

SO... it appears that the only two planes (not IRGC) currently in the air in the closed Iranian airspace are two Chinese planes. The speculation is that they are there to pick up Khomeini and take him to safety.

#11 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-14 08:06 PM | Reply

Operation Epstein Distraction will be a huge hit with Republicans who voted for US out of Middle East.

#12 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-14 08:22 PM | Reply

Trump is on schedule (shedule) to be the President of the US, Venezuela, and Iran simultaneously!
And all at once!

This is unpresidented... er, I mean, unprecedented!

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-14 08:30 PM | Reply

That's not an air map simulator. That's real time. Globe.adsbexchange.com

#14 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-14 08:49 PM | Reply

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