Radical terrorism is the topic of the day throughout the world. Some knowledgeable observers say deadly terrorism is likely to continue to be a danger for 20 to 30 years.

Headlines tell of horrific beheadings, mass murders, the slaughter of thousands and a growing number of terrorist cells throughout the world and in the United States. One report claims there is a terrorist cell in nearby Overland Park.

Do Americans really understand the scope and ugliness of how a relatively small number of highly motivated, skilled, committed individuals can bring a city and its government to its knees? Americans were given a first-hand look at what could be done by a few individuals who drove planes into New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania farm field.

Terrorism has been practiced for years, but terrorism and violence in the modern world is a different game with technology making it an easier and more deadly exercise. A few can bring about mass murders and hysteria.

With this worldwide attention, concern and fear of terrorism, it is interesting to note that, in 1971, Kansas University anthropology professor Felix Moos, police officer and later police chief Ron Olin, and KU psychology professor Maynard Shelly started a course titled “Violence, Aggression and Terrorism in the Modern World.”

Moos, a native of Germany was, and continues to be, recognized here and abroad for his first-hand knowledge of the intelligence and military communities. The course became very popular with class sizes coming close to or exceeding 600 students.

Remember, this was in 1971, long before Sept. 11, 2001. Subsequent events make it clear the course may have been ahead of its time, but it was right on target. Looking back, it is a tragedy more KU students and faculty, as well as the entire country, did not pay more attention to the concerns and knowledge of Moos, Olin and Shelly.

For some strange reason, the course, “Violence, Aggression and Terrorism in the Modern World,” still is listed in the university catalog, but it is not being taught today. Olin has retired, Shelly has died and Moos retired as a full-time faculty member in 2011 but continues to teach a scaled-down schedule.

Again, Moos’ knowledge of the roots and business of terrorism is immense. He lectures at the nation’s war colleges and confers with senior military and intelligence officials. He was the genesis of the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program, which schools intelligence personnel on the religion, culture, politics, government and languages of areas around the world. It is an intense program that has graduated more than 2,000 individuals.

As Moos notes, “You can only fight successfully when you know something about the enemy.” His approach was part of the U.S. Army’s “Human Terrain” program which encouraged U.S. military people to learn more about the culture and language of various parts of the world. However, with changes in the Army, the emphasis now is being placed on learning foreign languages and less on history and culture.

Moos was director of the KU Center for East Asian Studies in the mid 1960s and spends considerable time traveling abroad and participating in academic and intelligence work.

It’s fairly obvious this country hasn’t come up with an answer on how to defeat extremist terrorism, the jihadist threat, ISIS forces, Boko Haram murders, radical Islamists, al-Qaida and others.

It’s interesting that, although much is rightfully made of the United States having the best and most powerful military force in the world, the U.S. has not “won” a war since World War II. It didn’t “win” in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan.

What strategy should Uncle Sam come up with to “win” the war against radical terrorists?

It might have helped if more politicians, government officeholders, military leaders and the general public could have been in the classes that started in 1971 when Moos, Olin and Shelly were lecturing on “Violence, Aggression and Terrorism in the Modern World.”

They were ahead of the times and undoubtedly there were those on Mount Oread who thought they were far off base. There are those at KU today who continue to ignore and downplay Moos’ concerns for this country.

The situation or story could be called “Lessons Not Learned.”

Is it too late to learn or what can be done?