Henican: Thanks for nothing, Faisal

Gee, thanks, Faisal.

Have you really dragged Long Island into the failed Times Square bombing plot?

Federal investigators seem to think so, at least to the extent of helping to fuel the alleged plot with operational cash - and maybe something even sweeter.

But here's a mystery the feds have not yet thoroughly investigated: Did the rigid Pakistani Taliban have any idea Faisal Shahzad might be stopping at a Dunkin' Donuts near the Ronkonkoma rail?

You see, this is the kind of cultural clash that's inevitable when Westernized terror suspects are drawn into some fundamentalist and terror-prone ideology.

Someone lives here, is educated here, has a family here and then turns on us - well, it can get complicated separating the "us" from the "them."

Investigators spent the last few days trying to piece together the SUV-bomb money trail. Raids were conducted in Maine, Massachusetts and Shirley. Arrests were made. Many hours of security video were taken from that Dunkin' Donuts. New details are emerging of how the plot was planned and financed.

Clearly, this was terrorism on the cheap. The entire operation, from the junker-car purchase to the aborted Dubai flight, could not have cost much more than a few thousand dollars.

And look how inept the whole thing thankfully was.

The alleged bomber was such an empty-pocketed sad sack, he was apparently unable to raise the required funds with his own ATM card. His house in foreclosure, his other resources tapped out, he had no banker to go to. So according to law-enforcement types, Shahzad may have turned to an ancient network of international money transfer called hawala.

No one can say whether the hawaladars even knew where the funds were going. But this much is certain: They weren't extending big credit to Faisal.

Signs of an Early Summer

1. There's Law and order at the LIA

2. Napolitano and King are flirting again

3. Kagan's playing softball

4. The euro's getting Greece-ed

5. The LeBrons are in full bloom