View "Ask the Ambassador" Transcripts  Welcome to "Ask the State Department." This online interactive forum allows you to interact with Secretary Rice and other State Department officials. When a chat is announced, questions submitted online will be answered by State Department officials and posted to the website so that others may also benefit from the discussion. Launched in January 2006, citizens are able to participate in online discussions with Senior State Department Officials, field officers around the world, behind-the-scenes professionals at the Department of State and others. Transcripts of upcoming and previous online discussions are available below. When scheduled, a notice of the next chat will be posted on the Department of State home page. 07/10/2007 Freedom Agenda Jeffrey Krilla, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, discusses the President's Freedom Agenda, and the role the United States plays in supporting local voices for freedom and human rights around the world.  View Transcript Jeffrey Krilla, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights,  and Labor Biography 02/02/2007 Visa and Passport Fraud Prevention Andrew Simkin, Director of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs, answered questions about how the U.S. prevents illegal entry to the country. View Transcript Andrew Simkin, Director of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs Biography 08/23/2006 E-Passport Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, answered questions about the new electronic passport. View Transcript Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Biography 07/31/2006 13th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Eric G. John, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, discussed the ASEAN Regional Forum and answered questions online. View Transcript Eric G. John, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Biography 07/31/2006 Diplomatic Security and Protecting Secretary Rice Ambassador Richard Griffin, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, discussed diplomatic security, and protecting Secretary Rice. View Transcript Ambassador Richard Griffin, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Biography 07/19/2006 Nuclear Terrorism, and the President's Newly Launched Initiative to Combat It Robert Joseph, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, to answered questions about nuclear terrorism, and the President's newly launched initiative to combat it. View Transcript Robert Joseph, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Biography 07/13/2006 U.S. Efforts To Prevent Avian and Pandemic Flu Dr. Daniel Singer answered questions on U.S. efforts to coordinate with other nations on preparedness, prevention, and containment of Avian and Pandemic Flu. View Transcript Dr. Daniel Singer, Acting Deputy Coordinator and Senior Medical Policy Advisor for the Avian Influenza Action Group Biography 06/23/2006 World Refugee Day and Related Issues Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey led an online discussion regarding World Refugee Day and related issues on Friday, June 23, 2006. View Transcript Ellen R. Sauerbrey Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Biography 06/16/2006 Iranian Nuclear Program and Other Foreign Policy Issues Tom Casey, Director, Office of Press Relations, Bureau of Public Affairs, led an online discussion regarding Iran's nuclear program and other U.S. foreign policy issues.  View Transcript Tom Casey Director, Office of Press Relations 06/05/2006 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the AGOA Forum Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, led an online discussion regarding AGOA.  View Transcript Jendayi E. Frazer Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs  Biography 06/02/2006 President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Dr. Mark Dybul discussed the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meetings on HIV/AIDS held on May 31 - June 2, in New York.  View Transcript Dr. Mark Dybul, U.S. Deputy Global AIDS Coordinator 04/20/2006 -- The Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs will discuss the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention and how it affects U.S. adoption agencies . Assistant Secretary Harty will answer questions this Thursday at 4:00 PM.  View Transcript Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Biography 04/13/2006 President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Dr. Mark Dybul discussed the progress of President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the largest international health initiative any nation ever has undertaken directed at a single disease. The event took place Thursday, April 13 at 4:00 PM. View Transcript Dr. Mark Dybul, U.S. Deputy Global AIDS Coordinator 04/06/2006 The 2006 Foreign Service Written Exam and How to Become a Foreign Service Specialist U.S. Department of State recruiter Buddy Williams discussed preparations for the 2006 Foreign Service Written Exam and how to become a Foreign Service Specialist and how these nineteen career professionals play a vital role in U.S. Diplomacy. View Transcript Buddy Williams, Recruiter 04/03/2006 Elections in Belaurs and Ukraine Daniel Fried discussed the recent elections in Belarus and Ukraine. View Transcript  Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Biography 03/23/2006 UN Reform and the Human Rights Commission John Bolton discussed UN Reform and the Human Rights Commission. View Transcript John Bolton, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Biography 03/17/2006 Iraq and Other Issues Adam Ereli discussed Iraq and other issues.  View Transcript Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Biography 03/10/2006 International Women's Day and Women's History Month Charlotte (Charlie) Ponticelli, Senior Coordinator, International Women's Issues, discussed International Women's Day and Women's History Month. View Transcript Charlotte (Charlie) Ponticelli Senior Coordinator, International Women's Issues Biography 03/03/2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, discussed the current worldwide state of affairs related to drug control, money laundering and financial crimes, as reported in the 2006 INCSR. View Transcript Anne W. Patterson Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Biography 02/23/2006 Liberia, Democracy and Prosperity in Africa, and President Bush's Strategy for Global Peace and Security Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs discussed what events in Liberia mean to the advancement of democracy and prosperity in Africa and how they are tied to President Bush's strategy for global peace and security. View Transcript Jendayi E. Frazer Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs  Biography 02/16/2006 1) Detainees: Legal Framework and U.S. Policies and 2) Trial of Saddam Hussein and Other Iraqi Regime Officials John Bellinger, Legal Adviser to the Secretary of State, discussed issues relating to detainee policies, the trial of Iraqi regime officials, and more.  View Transcript John B. Bellinger III Legal Adviser to the Secretary of State Biography 02/13/2006 -- The Future of International Engagement with Afghanistan Maureen E. Quinn, Ambassador, Afghanistan Coordinator, discussed the outcomes of the recent London Conference on Afghanistan. View Transcript Maureen E. Quinn Ambassador, Afghanistan Coordinator Biography 02/02/2006 -- Challenges to the Global Nonproliferation Regime: The Case of Iran Stephen G. Rademaker, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation discussed global nonproliferation issues in terms of the current situation in Iran. View Transcript Stephen G. Rademaker, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation Biography 01/26/2006 The Way Forward in Iraq: An Integrated Political-Military-Economic Strategy James Jeffrey, Senior Advisor to Secretary Rice and Coordinator for Iraq Policy discussed the multi-faceted strategy necessary for progress in Iraq. View Transcript James Jeffrey, Senior Advisor to Secretary Rice and Coordinator for Iraq Policy Biography 01/19/2006 -- Discuss Travel to the U.S. -- Advancements in Security and Technology Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs discussed facilitating travel for visitors to the United States. Recent advancements in technology and staffing have enhanced the security and efficiency of processes associated with traveling to the United States.  View Transcript Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Biography