Opinion

Former CIA Director David Petraeus has five "big ideas" to combat Islamic extremism

The U.S. should adopt a policy of "sustained presence" to effectively combat Islamic extremism abroad, says former CIA director and retired General David Petraeus, who led coalition forces in Iraq from 2007 to 2008 and in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.

"This is a generational struggle at the least," Petraeus said. "I understand fully why presidents want to end wars rather than to start them, why they want to get out of wars and do nation-building at home."

"But we do have to stay with this," he said. "We need a sustained presence, a sustained commitment."

In an interview with Intelligence Matters host and CBS News senior national security contributor Michael Morell, Petraeus offered four additional "big ideas" intended to frame an effective strategic approach to combatting Islamic extremism.