Originally Posted by folie a deux

Ben is a master manipulator. Apparently some of the others are not completely on board with Ben. Don't know if he is talking about the tallies and kids or some of his own people. Reminds me of Juliet complaining at her bookclub meeting saying " I thought there was still such a thing as free will on this island" or her video tape message where she said some of us want a change.

Ben doesn't want anyone to leave, but he doesn't want anyone to think he is forcing them to stay. He wants them to think they want to stay, that it is their descison.

The sub was like a secruity blanket for many people. When things get rough they can get through it because they know that if it comes to it they can always leave. Since Locke destroyed it Ben won't take the blame from his people, and he doesn't have to go back on his word to Jack about leaving. He can say it was out of his control and look innocent when actually it was exactaly what he wanted to happen.