If Ive vividly laid out the narrative, the reader will come to his own conclusions. — Rick Atkinson Books Copy Share Image
“As required by the unwritten rules of military calamity, the initial attack went well.” — Rick Atkinson Military Calamity Copy Share Image
“One halfhearted effort had already been made in late March to force Fondouk Pass.” — Rick Atkinson Flower Copy Share Image
“Lincoln had inelegantly called “the tired spot that can’t be got at.” — Rick Atkinson Lincoln Copy Share Image
If I've vividly laid out the narrative, the reader will come to his own conclusions. — Rick Atkinson Books Copy Share Image
“Amantium irae amoris integratio est.’” Lovers’ quarrels are a part of love.” — Rick Atkinson Love Copy Share Image
The American army between world wars after World War I had virtually disintegrated. It was a very small force, given largely to… — Rick Atkinson After Copy Share Image
“In a dinner toast at one base, Patton declared, “Here’s to the wives. My, what pretty widows you’re going to make.” — Rick Atkinson Pretty Widows Copy Share Image
“CASABLANCA provided Vichy with its best anchorage south of Toulon, and the French navy had chosen to defend the Moroccan port with… — Rick Atkinson Courage Copy Share Image
“Captain Evelyn Waugh of the British Army wrote of the Stuka, “Like all things German, it is very efficient and goes on… — Rick Atkinson British army Copy Share Image
“A forward patrol reported capturing a French headquarters near La Sénia, five miles south of Oran, but the office safe yielded only… — Rick Atkinson Capturing French Copy Share Image
Global war is a clash of systems, not just battalions biffing one another in some godforsaken forest. — Rick Atkinson Another Copy Share Image
“Few commanders in this war could function without arriving at a sensibility in which thousands of dead and wounded men could be… — Rick Atkinson Insignificant Copy Share Image
“An enterprising shortwave radio operator managed to pick up the Army–Notre Dame football game and broadcast it to the 16th Infantry Regiment… — Rick Atkinson Ball game Copy Share Image
It's my belief that by demonizing Saddam, by raising the stakes in this war to the point where we're talking about a… — Rick Atkinson About Copy Share Image
American audiences tend to underappreciate the British, but 240 years ago they were us: They were the most powerful nation on Earth.… — Rick Atkinson American Copy Share Image
“Shortly after sunset on November 5, the convoy began to swing east, past the Pillars of Hercules. Soon the fleet would split… — Rick Atkinson Algiers Copy Share Image
“In less than three years he would be the most celebrated American battle captain of the twentieth century, a man whose name—like… — Rick Atkinson Obituary Copy Share Image
There is something within our biological structure that screams out and says it is morally wrong for the old to outlive the… — Rick Atkinson Life Copy Share Image
There are a number of World War II historians I admire: Cornelius Ryan, Mark Stoler, Antony Beevor, to name a few. As… — Rick Atkinson About Copy Share Image
I'm going to leave WWII. I considered and rejected doing something on the Pacific. Fourteen years is enough. I'd like to take… — Rick Atkinson Another Copy Share Image
“High-prowed fishing smacks bobbed at their moorings along the riverbank, nets draped over the gunwales to dry. Stork nests, intricately thatched and… — Rick Atkinson Fish Copy Share Image
“Ten miles to the southeast the war went on, badly, for Drake and his men. With nearly a thousand troops already dug… — Rick Atkinson War Copy Share Image
“We became ruthless with the Arab,” a 1st Division soldier wrote. “If we found them where they were not to be, they… — Rick Atkinson Arabs Copy Share Image
“pump,” Marshall added. Brooke had spotted a whimbrel, a yellow wagtail, and five small owls. He had also seen this American argument… — Rick Atkinson War Room Copy Share Image
“One man who did not understand was the New Zealanders’ legendary commander, Lieutenant General Bernard C. Freyberg. English-born but raised in New… — Rick Atkinson British empire Copy Share Image
“Linguists holding bullhorns hollered, “A bas les Boches! A bas les Marcon! Down with the Boches! Down with the Macaronis! Vive la… — Rick Atkinson American flag Copy Share Image
“If U-boats torpedoed a transport during the Atlantic passage, how many destroyers should be left behind to pick up survivors? Hewitt was… — Rick Atkinson Every day Copy Share Image
“more than 300 other ships bound for Algeria steamed from anchorages on the Clyde and along England’s west coast. For all these… — Rick Atkinson Royal navy Copy Share Image
“In contemplating who should command the Army’s multiplying regiments and divisions, Marshall and his training chief, Lesley J. McNair, kept a list… — Rick Atkinson American military Copy Share Image
I think I may try and write something about my pretty extraordinary experience with the 101st in Iraq. — Rick Atkinson About Copy Share Image
“nothing is more difficult in war than to adhere to a single strategic plan” and to resist the “constant temptation to desert… — Rick Atkinson Peace Copy Share Image
“I suffer from the usual difficulty that besets the higher commander—things can be ordered and started, but actual execution at the front… — Rick Atkinson Commander Copy Share Image
“They’re not shooting at us, they’re not shooting at us,” one infantry commander insisted, even as French artillery plastered his battalion.” — Rick Atkinson Infantry Copy Share Image
“The balance of the campaign—indeed, the balance of the war—would require learning not only how to fight but how to rule.” — Rick Atkinson Peace Copy Share Image
