US: A National Guard officer just back from Iraq criticised the war on national radio networks on Saturday, in a response to President Bush's weekly radio address in which he vowed to "finish our work" in Iraq.
Lieut Paul Rieckhoff, from Manhattan, said bad planning had meant "there were not enough vehicles, not enough ammunition, not enough medical supplies, not enough water" for US troops.
Speaking in the slot reserved for the Democratic Party response to the president's weekly address, he said he was speaking out because the voice of ordinary soldiers was not being heard.
"Our troops are still waiting for more body armour," he said, recounting how a member of his former platoon was blown apart by a rocket-propelled grenade.
"They are still waiting for better equipment. They are still waiting for a policy that brings in the rest of the world and relieves their burden," he said.
Noting that Mr Bush had said America would "stay the course", he retorted, "Well, it's time for a change ... I don't expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them." The broadcast was arranged by the presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry, but the soldier said he had not decided whom he would support for president.
In advance of Rieckhoff's remarks, Republicans circulated a TV comment he made last year about "incredible strides" the US had made in Iraq. Rieckhoff said he had not been free to speak out in the TV interview because he had been on active duty.