Anwar al-Awlaki, the American born Muslim terrorist cleric who inspired the shoe bomber and Major Hassan at Fort Hood has a "kill order" from the president on his head. He also has a right to privacy, says the State Department.

Tell me this is some kind of joke:

Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in March 2010, Fox News requested "....any and all records maintained by the United States Department of State, in the passport file...." for the cleric. Initially, the request was referred to Human Resources at the State Department, before a formal response was issued more than a year later, in August 2011. The letter reads in part :

"The Department of State, Passport Services has reviewed your request and has given full consideration to the reasons provided. However, we have determined that your request must be denied. This denial is pursuant to subsection (b)(6) of the Freedom of Information Act. The release of this information to you would be an invasion of personal privacy of another person, without written authorization from that person."

The government refused to release the records for the terror leader who is well known to be the first American that the U.S. government has green-lighted to be killed or captured.

Did the administration's political animus directed against Fox News have anything to do with this turn down? Or are the bureaucrats at State simply making life difficult for someone wanting to get information from them?

Regardless, Al-Awlaki is an enemy and not entitled to any consideration whatsoever from the government. What are they thinking there at Foggy Bottom?