But Mr Miliband must tread warily if he wishes simultaneously to appeal to aggrieved English voters and counter those who would wish to break up the United Kingdom.
He sees a rise in Euroscepticism among the electorate and believes a referendum would help counter the cynicism that politicians occupy their own "political class" separate from voters' worries.
In one of his last messages to his staff before he is replaced by Leon Panetta next month, he said the agency had many counter-terror tools in its arsenal and would adapt accordingly.
"The selectors have been acutely conscious that it would be counter-productive to try to rush Marcus back into international action before he was ready, " said chairman of selectors David Graveney.