But, even for the unconventional Israeli army, Sharon was too unconventional. When he was passed over for promotion to Army Chief of Staff and retired from active duty (he fought his epic 1973 battle as a reservist), a wise Israeli general warned his colleagues that he would return as Defense Minister, and that if he lost that office – as he did after the 1982 Lebanon War – he would return as Prime Minister.
但即使在超乎常规的以色列军队，沙龙也太标新立异了。当他在争夺陆军参谋长的角逐中落败并退出现役时（参加1973年史诗战争时他的身份是预备役），一位明智的以色列将领就告诫同事他会回来担任国防部长，而如果他没能当上国防部长（就像1982年黎巴嫩战争中所出现的状况），他就会担任以色列总理职务。