There is no "magic bullet" when it comes to eliminating the Islamic State and other threats of terrorism, and the United States is "probably 10 years into what will eventually be seen as a 30-year conflict," retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said this week.

"This conflict only ends when the people of the Middle East reject the ideology," Dempsey, who stepped down last year as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in an interview with The San Antonio Express before an appearance at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. "If we reach a point where they don’t reject the ideology and they all decide that they will align themselves in this thing called the caliphate, then that’s a different issue, but we’re not there yet."

And, he continued, the United States does not want to be part of the catalyst that encourages people to join forces with radical Islamist groups.

At the same time, Dempsey said he does not agree with complaints often voiced by GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz and others that the government hinders its own mission by not labeling attacks as being carried out through "radical Islamic terrorism."

"First of all, ‘Islamic’ means ‘of that faith’ and that’s not the issue," said Dempsey. "The issue is not with the Islamic faith, it’s not with Islam. It’s with radical Islamists."

And while Dempsey said he's not publicly picking sides in the election or attacking candidates, he also doesn't agree with Donald Trump's statements on allowing waterboarding, as he doesn't think the practice works.

"It seems to me that under duress, someone’s liable to say whatever they have to do to relieve the pressure on themselves," said Dempsey, "but I’m not an expert in it."

He also doesn't agree with Cruz's statements on policing Muslim neighborhoods. 

"Surveilling any one particular group, I think, would — could, could — create a condition where those groups wouldn’t feel comfortable living in the United States," said Dempsey. "We are a nation of immigrants (and) … the international standard bearer of diversity and inclusiveness."

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