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Long post ahead...

I just watched it again. I'm kind of disappointed in Locke's meetings. They were all so quick. He's not a good salesman, that's for sure. The 06 had him pegged. A loney old man who wants to play fantasy.

After watching the scene over, I think Ben planned on dumping Locke when the time was right, but didn't plan to murder him then and there. He was so desperate to save his life when he broke the door down. Locke is the only connection that Ben has to the island. If Locke dies with his knowledge of getting back to the island, Ben's chances of getting back greatly diminish. Re watch that scene when he starts strangling John. He looks upset, but i'll get to that after.

The things Ben knows prior to mudering Locke, are...

1). Widmore has been in contact with John and is guiding him to bring everyone back.
2). John met with 4/5 (excluding Aaron) 06 members, all turned him down.
3). Knows Jack is teetering and is at the breaking point. All Ben needs is leverage on Jack. Jack is the one capable of leading everyone back. Ben has to push Jack to that breaking point.
4). Kate's affection for Aaron, leverage.

During his meeting with Locke, he learned
5). Jin was alive and had given John proof. Except, John was to lie and say he was dead. Right there, Ben gets leverage on Sun.
6). Lastly, Ben learns that John was told (I'm assuming Ben knows the powers that be told John this info) to meet Hawking. Ben knows of her, but clearly not of her importance. When he finds out, Locke is disposable. He'll be the martyr Ben needs to convince Jack.

During the scene where Ben is strangling Locke, look at his face. He looks like he's in pain. He looks like he's going to cry... And at the end of it, he stares in a "WTF did I just do" way. He sounded genuine and sad when he said goodbye to Locke. However as with Ben, the end justifies the means. The only time we've ever seen the REAL Ben without question, was when he turned the wheel. He was defeated. He lost. John was Jacob's champion. Ben apologized to Locke, and then tried to make ammends with Jacob by turning the wheel. Making that sacrifice. No doubt in my mind, that was Ben at his most honest.

Killing Locke had to be done to progress his agenda. I think it was selfish on his end, but it wouldn't matter if everything came together. However, I think he knew that Locke would be OK if they could pull everyone back together and go to the island. The doubting Thomas story is my reasoning. While Jack wants answers about Hawking and his relationship with her (Ben avoids it because he can't tell Jack how he came to find out about her) he tells the story about Jesus ressurection. Not only was it a metaphor for belief, but for what was to come. Ben knows that island better then anyone. And he must know the Island wouldn't let John die for no good reason. If the island has plans for you, it has plans for you.

Just me theory of the big event. You can't be morally ambiguious if you're always doing good or always doing bad. With Ben, there's always both good and bad in everything he does.