CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The first question in Tuesday's GOP presidential debate went to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney about whether, in hindsight, going to war in Iraq was a mistake.

Romney criticized the question saying it was a "non-sequitur" and that it was "unreasonable" and "hypothetical."

He added, "You can say if we knew then what we know now, by virtue of inspectors being let in and giving us that information, by virtue of Saddam Hussein following the resolutions, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

The second question of the night also went to Romney when CNN's Wolf Blitzer repeated the question, emphasizing that the question was what his views are, "knowing what we know now."

Romney said that he supported President Bush's position to invade Iraq based on what the administration knew at the time. But the former governor went on to criticize the administration's handling of the war saying, "We were underprepared and underplanned for what came after we knocked down Saddam Hussein."

Romney also criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, for his comments about thet state of the war in Iraq.

"Harry Reid was wrong. We didn't lose the war in Iraq. That's not the thing you say with men and women in harm's way."

–CNN associate producer Natalie Apsell