Story highlights Kasich says he would never have committed U.S. to Iraq in 2002

But at the time, he told Ohio students, "We should go to war with Iraq"

(CNN) John Kasich says now that he never would have taken the United States to war in Iraq -- but the Ohio governor supported then-President George W. Bush's push for war in 2002.

In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" aired Sunday, Kasich said, "I would never have committed ourselves to Iraq."

But in November 2002, Kasich, then a former congressman, made a very different argument during an event at The Ohio State University, as the United States was gearing up for war in Iraq.

"We should go to war with Iraq. It's not likely that (Saddam) Hussein will give up his weapons. If he did he would be disgraced in the Arab world," he said then.

Kasich's 2002 comments, in front of a crowd of 100 students at the Kuhn Honors and Scholars House, were reported at the time by The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper, under the headline: "Fireside speaker favors war with Iraq."

Photos: John Kasich's political career Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit on April 18, 2015, in Nashua, New Hampshire. The summit was attended by all the 2016 Republican candidates as well as those eying a run for the nomination. Click through for more on the political career of Kasich: Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012, in Florida. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich, left, and then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney talk with students during a roundtable discussion at Otterbein University on April 27, 2012 in Westerville, Ohio. Romney eventually won the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich, left, President Barack Obama, center, and Republican House Speaker John Boehner play the first hole of a golf game on June 18, 2011, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich listens to Obama speak during a bipartisan meeting of governors hosted by the President and Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House on February 28, 2010. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Before officially taking office as governor of Ohio, Kasich talks with reporters after meeting with House and Senate Republican leaders at the U.S. Capitol on December 1, 2010. The GOP leaders talked about ways to create jobs, cut spending and repeal the health care law. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich, right, then a member of the U.S. House, sports "Bush" baseball caps with Texas Gov. George W. Bush on July 14, 1999. The two lawmakers held a news conference at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington during Bush's presidential run. Kasich had previously announced that he was withdrawing from the 2000 presidential race and endorsed Bush. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career U.S. Rep. Kasich delivers a speech in the Watergate complex in Washington on July 9, 1999, during the College Republican National Committee 53rd Biennial Convention. Other speakers included Republican 2000 presidential hopefuls such as Gary Bauer and Elizabeth Dole. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career During a U.S. government shutdown, Kasich, left, and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, speak to reporters outside the White House on January 6, 1996. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich shows a videotape of President Bill Clinton speaking during a news conference on Capitol Hill on December 16, 1995. Kasich was chairman of the House Budget Committee at the time and disputed Clinton's position on the budget. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: John Kasich's political career Kasich, center, shows a thank you note in the form of a check to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, left, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (right) on November 17, 1995, in Washington. They were soon engaged in bruising battles with President Bill Clinton over the federal budget. Hide Caption 11 of 11

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