The question isn't "where are these guys from?" It's "who's running them?"

[Scuba]

They almost certainly are NOT a tool of the government from where they came.

Let's hope POTUS treats this like a criminal, not military, action.

[naaman fletcher]

1. What makes you think they are run by anyone? nt

[Scuba]

3. I suppose it's plausible that two brothers, living in eastern Europe ....

... decide to go to America and commit a terrorist act, and manage to follow through, without anything but their own hatred to support their criminal actions.

But I doubt it.

[eomer]

4. Stochastic terrorism

is the third possibility.

[Scuba]

5. Maybe they're Glen Beckkk fans.

[treestar]

8. They were here at least 7 years ago

They did not come for the specific purpose of terrorism. They were here for several years first.

[babylonsister]

2. We breed lone whackadoos; maybe that's what they are. nt

[Lex]

6. A couple of lone punks is

also a possibility.

[Scuba]

7. Please see my post, reply #3.

[Lex]

9. Okay. Then what? nt

[Zax2me]

10. insurgents in the Caucasus have been linked to al-Qaida

Islamic terrorists ties.

[jschurchin]

11. Let's hope POTUS treats this like a criminal, not military, action.

If I were you I wouldn't hold my breath. The last time that happened was OKC. Since 9-11 ANY terrorist act in America has been treated as a military action.
Unfortunately, because we can pretty much guarantee they will both be dead before this is over, your questions won't be able to be answered with any degree of certainty.