Defensive capabilities wouldn't be too much to ask for, considering WAR was designed as a Jack of all trades. However, in its current state it is overpowered, which I think was not how the dev team intended it to be. In fact, I believe they didn't anticipate the RR Atma to be that much of a change to the modern DD world, which is also what gives WAR its new found power, combined with their high double attack, both from trait and merits as well as with their new gear (AF3, Ravager's Gorget, Atheling Mantle, etc.), which allows for more critical hits, their critical hit rate increase on their AF3, their critical attack bonus as a trait and lastly their 2hr, which profits greatly from RR's critical damage increase. And the relevant gear for that can still be worn while maintaining the haste cap. Now if you look at Retaliation, which can also crit and benefits from all other status effects, and gives additional TP for one of the most powerful critical hit weapon skills, that all benefits from both the critical hit rate and damage.

I'm not saying that's all there is to it, but I do believe the currently available Atmas push WAR a good deal beyond the borders that the job was intended for.

Anyways, defensive capabilities are certainly lacking, defender doesn't do much for it, Retaliation doesn't mitigate the own damage taken just uses it to deal extra damage to the enemy (which, to be honest, sounds more like a DRK trait). The reason WAR can tank in abyssea is because every job that can keep hate can tank in abyssea, just depends on what. Sure, some NMs actually require trying to stay alive, most however don't. The high HP pool and virtually limitless MP available for curing, only require the tank to keep hate, which isn't a problem for most jobs anymore, least of all for WAR.