""Yet for some reason they object to being called on to defend the conduct of some prominent atheists:   Hitler, Stalin, and Mao.""

It can't be defended Ron, but that's not the argument you little old non sequitur you.

They would have done the things they did, whether they were atheists, religious nuts, or believers in the cosmic pixie.

They did what they did because they were power hungry maniacs, and those tend to come in all shapes, sizes and beliefs.

Don T.