“Proverbially, no military plan survives contact with the enemy. That is never truer than when there is no plan to begin with.” — Rick Atkinson Strategy Copy Share Image
I think the Bush Administration had basically inherited a policy toward Iraq from the Reagan/Bush Administration that saw Iraq as a kind… — Rick Atkinson Administration 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
I think I may try and write something about my pretty extraordinary experience with the 101st in Iraq. — Rick Atkinson About 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
“Brooke’s deputy, General Sir John Kennedy, observed of Churchill: “He is difficult enough when things are going badly, more difficult when nothing… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Ernie Pyle, who was with them as usual, wrote: “They were dead weary, as a person could tell even when looking at… — Rick Atkinson Young men Copy Share Image
“Amantium irae amoris integratio est.’” Lovers’ quarrels are a part of love.” — Rick Atkinson Love Copy Share Image
“Tanks beached at X and Z were to race inland before dawn in a pincer movement to help capture two airfields south… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Some fired, others balked. Decanted onto a strange, dark shore, many men feared shooting their own. The hillsides hissed with the night’s… — Rick Atkinson 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 Copy Share Image
“Matthew Ridgway to command the XVIII Airborne Corps, Gavin had taken over the 82nd in mid-August. At thirty-seven he would be not… — Rick Atkinson Civil war Copy Share Image
“A soldier doesn’t fight to save suffering humanity or any other nonsense. He fights to prove that his unit is the best… — Rick Atkinson 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 Hunting season Copy Share Image
“Two great armadas would carry more than 100,000 troops to the invasion beaches. One fleet would sail 2,800 miles from Britain to… — Rick Atkinson 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
“All the confusion that characterized the cargo loading now attended the convergence of 34,000 soldiers on Hampton Roads. Troop trains with blinds… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“an infantry captain addressed his men: “We do not pray for victory, nor even for our individual safety. But we pray for… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“In a phone call one evening the corps commander grew incensed when Ward mentioned his good fortune in losing no officers in… — Rick Atkinson Phone call 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
“K of the 18th Infantry killed an Arab civilian, who tumbled down a hillside with his robes flying about him. Soldiers from… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“A soldier would snake his way painfully through rocks and rubble to set up a light machine gun, raise his head cautiously… — Rick Atkinson Computers 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
“A popular aphorism soon circulated among frontline troops: “Never were so few commanded by so many from so far.” Asked why the… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
“Draconian censorship was soon imposed, with correspondents advised that no dispatches would be allowed that made people at home feel unhappy. Equally… — Rick Atkinson Copy Share Image
