Think tanks do have points of view, and they are absolutely entitled to defend them.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Tanks being deployed far forward is an indication of offensive action; tanks in depth is an indication of defensive action.
I think that there's been an unfortunate tendency for right wing think tanks to dominate these discussions. They often produce very shoddy studies and policy recommendations, which are nevertheless taken very seriously.
Everybody certainly has the right to defend themselves. That's not to say that they should defy common sense by avoiding or diffusing confrontation. And that's very, very important.
I think people have a right to their point of view.
Tanks come in two forms: the dangerous, deadly kind and the 'liberating' kind.
We haven't had to defend anything to anybody.
As the Chief of the Defence Staff says, you don't defend on the goal line. Defending the interests of the U.K. means tackling threats early and at source, and that means intervening overseas.
You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self-serving and hypocritical.
For heaven's sake, when you see the enemy attacking, you pick up the pitchfork, and you enlist everybody you see. You don't stand around arguing about who's responsible, or who's going to pay.
There is no right to work in a think tank, and these are very privileged positions.