The closely coordinated exchange drew disapproval from Democratic war critics as well as some Pentagon military leaders.

The soldiers were coached. Before the session began, a Pentagon communications official, Allison Barber, was heard asking one of them, ''Who are we going to give that [question] to?''

Barber later told reporters the soldiers were told only about broad themes Bush wanted to discuss, not specific questions.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said he did not think the soldiers had been told what they could or could not say.

''The troops can ask the president whatever they want,'' he said. ''They've always been free to do that.''

The president did not invite the soldiers to ask any questions, however, and none did.

Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita later issued a statement saying, ''On behalf of these fine young men and women, we certainly regret any perception that they were told what to say. It is not the case.''

The president spoke into a video screen to 10 U.S. soldiers and one Iraqi officer seated outdoors in Tikrit, Iraq, Saddam Hussein's hometown.

''What's your strategy, and how do you think it's going?'' Bush asked.

Capt. Brent Kennedy of the Army's 42nd Infantry Division said U.S. and Iraqi forces were working together to secure more than 1,250 polling places for Saturday's vote. ''We're working right alongside with the Iraqis as they lead the way in securing these sites,'' Kennedy said.

With Iraqi troop readiness at the center of the war debate, Bush's discussion with the troops was questioned by war critics including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who complained that it was ''highly scripted,'' and by military officers.

''Officers are upset that military people would be coached as to how to talk to the president,'' said a senior military official who spoke on condition of anonymity. ''It's against everything that people in uniform stand for.''