Kasich Wouldn’t Have Seen Invading Iraq ‘As Vital To National Interests’

Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, speaks at the Republican Leadership Summit Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Nashua, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Add Ohio Gov. Kasich (R) to the list of Republicans who say they wouldn’t have authorized an invasion of Iraq like then-President George W. Bush.

“There’s a lot of people who lost limbs and lives over there, OK?” Kasich told The Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday. “But if the question is, if there were not weapons of mass destruction should we have gone, the answer would’ve been no.”

Kasich went on to say he “wouldn’t have seen it as vital to national interests.”

Kasich is one of the latest declared and possible 2016 presidential contenders to contrast with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who could also run for president in 2016, on the question.

On Monday, Bush told Fox’s Megyn Kelly that he would have authorized an invasion of Iraq. Bush later backtracked and said he misheard the question. On Wednesday he refused to answer if he would have authorized an invasion given the knowledge available today.

Other declared and likely 2016 contenders have weighed in —both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) have both very directly said they would have not have ordered an invasion.

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Notable Replies

  1. Now they’re falling all over themselves to prove that they wouldn’t have done what G.W. Bush did…and yet, we all know they’re lying. they already want to get us involved in another war in Iran!

  2. But but but “something something Magog and jibba jabba the apocalypse!”

  3. It’s so damn easy to say this based on these past twelve years and what we now know. Seriously, who besides theDick Cheney would repeat that little mistake.

    What I want to know is what they’d have done in the aftermath of the “MY Pet Goat” debacle. Would they have been desperate to display their manliness by invading Iraq?

  4. Invading Iran would make Iraq seem like Grenada in comparison.

    It would make those in the world who don’t already hate us fucking despise us.

  5. Avatar for jw1 jw1 says:

    Nope. Sorry.
    You will not be POTUS either.

    Carol Merrill has your parting gifts.
    Thanks for playing!

    jw1

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