Intel Chief McConnell Hails Iraq Dissenter

It may be a pale substitute for his old job heading the National Counterterrorism Center, but it’s not bad.

Last month, NCTC Director Scott Redd told NBC News that the Iraq war had not “tactically” made the U.S. safer, and acknowledged that it had provided al-Qaeda with a recruiting tool. Mere days later, Redd announced his resignation. Draw your own conclusions.

Now comes word that Redd’s ex-boss, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, saw him off with full honors. From a prepared statement:

Director McConnell presented Redd with the award – the highest granted by the DNI – at a Nov. 9 ceremony held in Redd’s honor at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

“Scott Redd has devoted his life to serving his nation,” the DNI said at the event, which attracted several other heads of IC agencies, including FBI Director Robert Mueller; CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden; Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and Scott Large, director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Redd also received at the ceremony other awards from IC partners, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the NGA.

Palliative or kiss-off? You make the call.