For some perspective, from the wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_al-AwlakiAnwar al-Awlaki (also spelled Aulaqi; Arabic: أنور العولقي Anwar al-‘Awlaqī; born April 22, 1971 (1971-04-22) (age 39) in Las Cruces, New Mexico) is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Yemen, and of Yemeni descent.[9] He is an Islamic lecturer, spiritual leader, and former imam who has purportedly inspired Islamic terrorists against the West and, according to U.S. government officials, also become “operational” as a senior talent recruiter, motivator, and participant in planning and training "for al-Qaeda and all of its franchises".[3][7][10][11][12][13] The U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence warned that al-Awlaki "is extraordinarily dangerous, committed to carrying out deadly attacks on Americans and others worldwide".[6] With a blog, a Facebook page, and many YouTube videos, he has been described as the "bin Laden of the Internet".[14][15]
Al-Awlaki's sermons were attended by three of the 9/11 hijackers. He reportedly met privately with at least two of them in San Diego, and one moved from there to Falls Church, Virginia, as al-Awlaki moved.[16][17] Investigators suspect al-Awlaki may have known about the 9/11 attacks in advance.[16] In 2009, unnamed U.S. officials said he was promoted to the rank of "regional commander" within al-Qaeda.[4][18]His sermons were also attended by accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. In addition, U.S. intelligence intercepted at least 18 emails between Hasan and al-Awlaki from December 2008 to June 2009, including one in which Hasan wrote: "I can't wait to join you [in the afterlife]."[19][20] After the Fort Hood shooting, al-Awlaki praised Hasan's actions.[21][22] In addition, "Christmas Day bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab said al-Awlaki was one of his al-Qaeda trainers, meeting with him and involved in planning or preparing the attack, and provided religious justification for it, according to unnamed U.S. intelligence officials.[23][24][25] In March 2010, al‑Awlaki said in a videotape delivered to CNN that jihad against America was binding upon himself and every other able Muslim.[26][27]