Former Sen. Scott Brown says the White House
terrorism summit scheduled for Feb. 18 should focus on homeland security, not social issues.
The White House announced the summit on Sunday in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris that left a total of 17 dead at the magazine's offices and a Jewish kosher market.
The purpose of the conference is to "better understand, identify, and prevent the cycle of radicalization to violence at home in the United States and abroad," the Associated Press reported.
But Stuart Varney, guest-hosting
Fox News Channel's "Your World with Neil Cavuto" on Monday, noted that nowhere did the White House mention the words "violent extremism."
"I don't think we need a conference to coddle and hug people," Brown told Varney, adding that the Obama administration has a lack of strategy in dealing with terrorism.
"As you remember, the president drew a red line. Remember that red line? If you cross it, you're in big trouble. They crossed it every which way, and he did nothing," Brown said, referring to President Barack Obama's warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad not to use chemical weapons against Syrian rebels.
Varney said the conference is scheduled to have educators, mental health workers, religious leaders and social workers.
"That would seem like an attempt to understand terror as opposed to killing it," Varney said.
Brown agreed, saying he would rather see homeland security, military experts, the CIA and FBI along with world leaders.
"How about the president leading that conference?" Brown said.
Obama, Brown said, has "checked out" on a whole host of things.
"I pray every night" he said, "and I talk to folks and say, where's his head at, has he checked out on this as well? We'll soon find out."