@YYA – there is nowhere in the the Shulchan Aruch that it says or implies that the groups need to be ad-hoc – in fact, if the foal is to deter attack, it would seem that a TRAINED force is what is required. The fact that the Halacha in question is in Hilchos Shabbos is irrelevant to the main point – it is there to make it clear that EVEN on Shabbos, this should be done, not that ONLY on Shabbos this should be done.
The Rambam (quoted above by RightJew) makes it clear that going out on Shabbos is an obligation for EVERYONE – ????????? ??? ???? ?????????? ????????????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ????????????? ????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????? ??????????. The language used – ????? – and the statement that ALL who can should participate clearly implies that this has the Halacha of a Milchemes Mitzva; and in a case where it’s clear that such a situation is likely to occurred, making oneself ready to participate in the best way possible would seem to at least be a Hechsher Mitzva.
Your crack about “political considerations” is also misguided. In most cases, it is world pressure that causes Israel to hold back from using full force. Unfortunately, paying at least some attention to this is necessary in today’s world, where Israel is dependent on the world for weaponry and raw materials for the weapons it manufactures itself. I agree that this is not optimal – but it’s necessary.
As to your comment on the Gedolim not needing to explain themselves – actually, I strongly disagree with you, and your comment is not in line with the traditional Litvish approach. It is true that Chasidim held that you follow the Rebbeh without question – but Litvish Rabbonim were expected to back up their Piskei Halacha with sources and reasoning – blind faith, per the Litvish Derech, is limited to HKB”H. “[P]rivately explain[ing] things off the record” does not take the place of providing a public explanation that can be reviewed by others – and when “facts” that are visibly inaccurate are repeatedly cited as the reason for their positions, it makes it seem that the true reasons are not necessarily Halacha-based. Peak is supposed to be based on applying the Halacha to a given set of facts – but when the facts are not as purported, the Psak will not be correct.
an Israeli Yid