[AnotherUnixGeek]

"Should Washington Post Military Analyst William Arkin Be Beaten Like the Repulsive Sack of Sh*t He Is?"

No - incredibly offensive, fundamentally mindless drivel is still free speech. But Arkin should be recognized for his lack of coherence, logic, and basic decency.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...incredibly offensive, fundamentally mindless drivel is still free speech."

Giving aid and comfort to the enemy is not.

[xjcsa]

No - incredibly offensive, fundamentally mindless drivel is still free speech. But Arkin should be recognized for his lack of coherence, logic, and basic decency.

Read the whole debate; this is discussed. As long as the beating is administered by private individuals with privately-supplied tire irons, it's not a government infringement of free speech. The First Amendment provides no protection from non-governmental beatings.