Sean Hannity: I can't encourage military service "in good conscience" while Obama is president

There are limits, apparently, to the Fox News host's devotion to U.S. Armed Forces

Published September 5, 2014 8:15PM (EDT)

  (Fox News)
(Fox News)

While pontificating on his Fox News shows Thursday night, right-wing media personality Sean Hannity revealed that his faith in the value of serving with the United States Armed Forces was being severely diminished because of the foreign policy of President Obama.

"I've always had the greatest respect for people, like yourself, that have served our country," Hannity began, speaking to guest Ralph Peters, a retired Army Colonel. "And if I'm looking at us giving up all of our gains in Iraq, I don’t know if I can in good conscience recommend that any American sign up for the military under this leadership," he continued, referring to the success the Islamic extremist group ISIS has had in claiming territory in Iraq since most U.S. troops left the country in 2011.

“If they risk their blood and treasure and give up their lives only to give it back a year later?” Hannity continued, referring to portions of Iraq, a sovereign country that is not and never was annexed to the United States. “I really could not in good conscience recommend people serve under those circumstances.”

Peters, however, disagreed. "Well, I can. First of all, we, the American people, didn't lose Iraq," Peters responded. "Obama gave it away. Obama gave it away!" Peters next went on to remind Hannity that Obama would eventually no longer be president (which strikes us as not particularly germane to Hannity's claim that he couldn't recommend military service while Obama is president, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) and then called the military "the one institution we must preserve at all costs."

Why? "[B]ecause," Peters continued, "they will see us through the terrible times."

You can watch Hannity place country before party below, via the Daily Caller:


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


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Fox News Iraq Isis Military Ralph Peters Sean Hannity The Daily Caller Video