It would benefit him by people recognizing his name and SPELLING IT CORRECTLY! :P

I believe that Ben is the one who faked the planewreck. How would it benefit Widmark?

I definitely think that Ben staged the aircraft. However, I think that both sides are being partially honest and partially deceitful. They are both like Satan. They tell you some truths to get you to believe their lies. The jury is still out for me on who are the less-bad guys. I can't call either of them good. Sorry.

Good comments on the Widmore Industries-shell corporation factors.

I do wonder about Ben's power and riches. Just taking over the Others doesn't exact conjure up wealth and entrepreneurship. And it's unlikely he inherited it.

So, what's up wit' dat? ;-)

Floyd25-I don't think that pillow biter is the preferred nomenclature.

Maybe Ben went back in time and invested in micro$oft stock... =]

rader023, I know Ben has money, passports, etc. My question is where did he get it? He came to the island when he was a boy and destroyed all of the dharma civilization (except Mikhail). So, what happened between then and now to make him so powerful?

At this point in the story, I think Widmore and Ben are both narcissistic, power-hungry men who have discovered the secrets that the island holds and it's just become a battle of evil vs. evil for control of it. They both seem willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, regardless of the outcome to innocent people (our Losties included). Each has their own agenda and are both so manipulative, that at this stage, I don't know who to believe.

Brianlost,
Ben has millions somewhere otherwise Miles wouldn't have asked for it. I think Widmore planned the plan not Ben. Even the Captain told Desmond & Sayid that.
BTW, WHO CARES IF Tom is a pillow biter.?!?!?

I thought 815 was a 777, couldnt remember, but i am just saying there are no 777 on decommisioned 777's. It is very expensive and will be flown way longer than approx 10 years before being converted. Whidmore is a baller and they should have just had him straight out buy a 777. Although it would be noticed that it disappeared!!!!!

About the 777. Yes, Oceanic 815 was a 777, and it did have 2 separate isles. If you go back to the first few episodes of season one you can clearly see that it has 2 isles in the flashbacks. Specifically in Charlie's flashback you actually see him cut across the middle section of seats to the other isle and in doing so bumps Shannon, which is why she says "Excuse me!"

What I'm still wondering is where is Ben and the rest of his crew getting the resources/funding to do what they do on and off the island? All the research, Penthouse suites, splurging on room service, requests for 3.2 million dollars, etc.? Plus why does Sayid end up working for Ben if he isn't "the good guy"?

The 777 comment is pretty spot on. 777 is a twin aisle. I dont remember off the top of my head, but as an aerospace person I dipped my head a little because, to my knowledge there are no 777 freighers, the plane isnt old enough, and also the first non conversion 777 freighter wont roll out for a little while. So it doesnt actually exist. But it could in a lost universe, just not likely :)

Tom told Kate in season 3 (I think) when he brought her a dress, something to the effect of "your not my type" I think Tom was gay all along..not that it means anything to the story line. and I thought it was ok, just like the occasional joke is a nice change. I don't think everything has to do with the story line its nice to just throw different things in

P4P-them showing Tom being gay is one of my favorite things about the power of the internet. It's called fan service. The fact that Tom is gay, yes, it is pointless to story of lost, but when everyone said "Tom is gay" TPTB decided to throw us a bone and acknowledge us. It's awesome. BUT ANYWAY...

I think I'm going to believe Tom on this one. I know the Others have done some pretty bad stuff to our survivors, but for some reason, I totally believe that they are the good guys. You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet.

Tom being gay wasn't out of place, because he very pointedly implied he was gay earlier.

And I haven't decided yet whether to believe Ben's story or Widmore's story about who staged the crash and why. Either one could be behind it, to stop people from looking for the wreakage and maybe stumbling onto the island in the process. Ben to protect what he and the Others have on the island, and Widmore to stop anyone else from finding the island before he can find it and take it from Ben's faction.

and how exactly do we know that "Widmore went to great lengths to recover the Black Box"? we just have the captain's word for that. and that means nothing.

ebernett, at the point in time of the flashback, Tom hadn't yet been killed. This was all stuff going on from when Michael left the island until the freighter showed up. Tom died at the end of last season, which was really only a few days ago (story time) And what was the point of having him be gay. and showing the boyfriend? seemed completely of place and pointless

The papers and Tom said the plane was a 777. I don't know if this is a mistake on the producer's/writers part or a deliberate clue, but a 777 is a widebody jet having in coach class a 2-3-2 configuration with two aisles. Everything we have seen of the actual Oceanic plane has it as a 3-3 configuration with a single aisle, suggesting a 757, 767, Airbus a300, etc. Incidentally, the 777 has only been in service since 1995, so I seriously doubt that there would be a decommissioned one as early as 2004.

i still wanna guess ben.

I think it's Ben and the papers are fake. If someone can orchestrate a fake plane crash, they can fake some official-looking papers to help convince a brain-dead stooge like Michael.

It's still up in the air...but the freighter captain was so passionate about Ben being the mastermind behind the fake 815. Plus, he had (presumably) the black box from the fake.

ebernet - I don't think it's that Michael can't be killed - he's not immortal. It's just that the island won't "let" him die until his "work" (whatever that is) is done. I think this is why Locke has survived a few things (coming face to face w/ the monster; getting shot by Ben) and is still alive as well. It's just not his time to die.

'Course this is just my theory. Who really knows?

lets hide the fact that Widmore bought the plane but we will call it "Widmore Industries", just so no one knows who is behind this.

Something is wrong with this whole thing. Still not sure if I believe Widmore did this, vs Ben doing this.

By the way, for a guy who bought an airplane through a shell corporation, he must be pretty freakin' stupid in calling it "Widmore Industries." Duhhh..

Wait wasn't Tom dead? So I guess not, he comes and goes whenever he needs a booty call is that right?

I'm totally freakin' confused. Why can't Michael be killed / die? Is it because he is off the island, because clearly people CAN be killed ON the island. So I guess Jack, Kate, Aaron, Jin, Hurley and Sayid live forever, right? Cool beans.

My only problem with this theory is that Sayid, who at first believes Widmore's side of the story, later works for Ben to take down Widmore. That would make me believe that something happened to Sayid to make him turn.

My bet would be on Ben as well. But one question. Why can't the survivors of the plane crash get off the island the same way the Tom did to get to New York. Why didn't Michael ask that?