Ben's next move?

It has been posited elsewhere that Locke, aka Jeremy Bentham, is in
fact 'The Economist' whom Ben has enlisted Sayid to kill. The
rationale for this seems to be that the real Jeremy Bentham was an
economist. Initially, I thought this idea was a little too far-fetched
for my tastes, but I've recently started to wonder:

Could it be that the only way for Ben to be allowed back on the Island
is for Locke to die, thus enabling Ben to reassume his former position
as Leader? Ben is nothing short of a ninja when it comes to the art of
manipulation, and his parting apology to Locke for making his life
miserable seemed just cryptic enough in tone to make me wonder if he
was alluding to more than simply that which they had already been
through on the island. Could it be that Ben is somehow responsible for
the 'something bad' that happens on the Island following the O6's
escape, which ultimately drew Locke off the Island to urge them to come
back? Could it be that this is but Ben's latest strategy in his
ongoing game of chess with Widmore?

Just wondering.

PS - Apologies to Shamballa for the similarities in our user names. I
was aware of your presence on L-T, but I didn't know you were also on
this site until after I registered.

PS - Apologies to Shamballa for the similarities in our user names. I
was aware of your presence on L-T, but I didn't know you were also on
this site until after I registered.

No apology necessary shambala! Welcome to the site and I look forward to more theories from you.

I've been thinking of asking SunnyP to change my user name to Shamballa with a capital "S" anyway (hint, hint). That might help differentiate the two.

Good first post!

Agreed. This makes a lot of sense. Ben always has a plan, and as far as we've seen, nothing happens outside what he means to have happen. It seemed to when he was forced to leave the Island, but he probably had worked out that contingency too. If he indeed has a part in the "something bad" that happens after the O6 leave, he must have an agent still loyal to him on the Island (Juliet, perhaps?). The Others are seemingly now under the guidance of Locke (who I guess is under the guidance of Richard and Jacob/Christian/Horace), but if Ben is affecting events on the Island in his absence, he must have a mole in their midst.

I guess this could open the floodgates for "Ben's man on the Island" theories. Egad.

it's a good idea with much plausibility. Good post.

Oooh... Good thoughts Sham!! You could really be on to something here!

I don't think that Sayid would kill John, even if Ben tried to manipulate him to do so. It seems to me as though Ben has got Sayid killing people that either work for Widmore or Abaddon. Of couse the show is full of plot twists and we would have never seen that one coming. So A+ if you are correct.

I also thought that Bens parting, "Sorry I made your life so miserable" Life, not time on the island there could be something in that.