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Ralph Peters sent a letter informing colleagues of his decision to quit Fox News
'Over my decade at Fox, I was long proud of the association. Now I am ashamed,' wrote Peters
He also claimed the network had 'degenerated' into a 'propaganda machine'

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 18:25 EDT, 20 March 2018 | Updated: 15:09 EDT, 21 March 2018

e-mail

A military analyst for Fox News has quit the network because he believed it had turned into a propaganda machine for President Donald Trump's administration.

Ralph Peters, a retired U.S. Army officer, said on Tuesday he told Fox at the beginning of the month that he did not want his contributor contract renewed.

'Over my decade at Fox, I was long proud of the association,' Peters wrote in an email that was distributed to colleagues at Fox News, and first reported by BuzzFeed.

'Now I am ashamed.'

He closed out the letter by writing: 'Thanks, and, as our president's favorite world leader would say, "Das vidanya."'

Fox News said in a statement that the network did not want attributed to a specific spokesperson that Peters was entitled to his opinion, 'despite the fact that he's choosing to use it as a weapon in order to get attention.'

Fox News added that it was proud of its opinion programming and prime-time hosts.

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Over and out: Ralph Peters )(above) sent a letter to his colleagues informing them of his decision to quit Fox News after over a decade at the network

Buds: 'Over my decade at Fox, I was long proud of the association. Now I am ashamed,' wrote Peters (President Trump and Hannity above)

Peters said he believed Fox News had 'degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration.'

He criticized prime-time hosts for 'profoundly dishonest assaults' on the FBI, the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community and special counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting an investigation into the Trump administration's dealings with Russia.

He accused the network of 'scaremongering' with lurid warnings of deep-state machinations.

Peters did not mention any names, but Fox's leading prime-time host, Sean Hannity, has been the most vocal defender of the president while talking of a 'deep state' and casting doubt on justice officials.

Trump has been an avid watcher of Fox News, most notably its morning Fox & Friends program.

The network has long been the top-rated on cable for years.

Fox News had an intramural debate of its own last week when news anchor Shepard Smith, who just renewed his contract, said in an interview with Time magazine that Fox's opinion hosts 'don't really have rules' and can say whatever they want.

He said the opinion lineup is there primarily as entertainment.

That led Hannity and Ingraham to fire back, saying their shows have made news.

Don and Friends: He also claimed the network had 'degenerated' into a 'propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration' (Don Jr with the hosts of Fox & Friends)

Peters said it appalled him that 'hosts who made their reputations as super-patriots' now advance the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin by making light of Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Peters was suspended by Fox News for two weeks in 2015 for using a crude word to describe then-President Barack Obama during an appearance on the Fox Business Network.

The retired Army colonel said he did not apply his criticisms to Fox Business Network, who he called 'he grown-ups,' and Fox News' reporters.

Peters also made headlines recently when he called for a ban on all assault weapons.

RALPH PETERS QUITS FOX NEWS AND SAYS HE IS ASHAMED

On March 1st, I informed Fox that I would not renew my contract. The purpose of this message to all of you is twofold: First, I must thank each of you for the cooperation and support you've shown me over the years. Those working off-camera, the bookers and producers, don't often get the recognition you deserve, but I want you to know that I have always appreciated the challenges you face and the skill with which you master them.

Second, I feel compelled to explain why I have to leave. Four decades ago, I took an oath as a newly commissioned officer. I swore to "support and defend the Constitution," and that oath did not expire when I took off my uniform. Today, I feel that Fox News is assaulting our constitutional order and the rule of law, while fostering corrosive and unjustified paranoia among viewers. Over my decade with Fox, I long was proud of the association. Now I am ashamed.

In my view, Fox has degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration. When prime-time hosts--who have never served our country in any capacity--dismiss facts and empirical reality to launch profoundly dishonest assaults on the FBI, the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community (in which I served) and, not least, a model public servant and genuine war hero such as Robert Mueller--all the while scaremongering with lurid warnings of "deep-state" machinations-- I cannot be part of the same organization, even at a remove. To me, Fox News is now wittingly harming our system of government for profit.

As a Russia analyst for many years, it also has appalled me that hosts who made their reputations as super-patriots and who, justifiably, savaged President Obama for his duplicitous folly with Putin, now advance Putin's agenda by making light of Russian penetration of our elections and the Trump campaign. Despite increasingly pathetic denials, it turns out that the "nothing-burger" has been covered with Russian dressing all along. And by the way: As an intelligence professional, I can tell you that the Steele dossier rings true--that's how the Russians do things.. The result is that we have an American president who is terrified of his counterpart in Moscow.

I do not apply the above criticisms in full to Fox Business, where numerous hosts retain a respect for facts and maintain a measure of integrity (nor is every host at Fox News a propaganda mouthpiece--some have shown courage). I have enjoyed and valued my relationship with Fox Business, and I will miss a number of hosts and staff members. You're the grown-ups.

Also, I deeply respect the hard-news reporters at Fox, who continue to do their best as talented professionals in a poisoned environment. These are some of the best men and women in the business..

So, to all of you: Thanks, and, as our president's favorite world leader would say, 'Das vidanya.'