And over the next two years, all of Israel's actions aimed at mitigating these threats will need to be taken with the certain knowledge that the country will be in and out of crises with the Obama administration throughout.
Shelton, who retired shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, said the brass reviewed "on the shelf" plans to respond to crises with the incoming Bush administration.
That would also suggest that the country's powerful generals, from whom Mr Hussain has often taken orders, had run out of patience with Mr Zardari's dysfunctional administration at a time of multiple crises, including high inflation, a Taliban insurgency and devastating flooding that has left over 6m surviving on food aid.