The Other Woman (406)

[SoulReaver]

They had to make the gas inert because Ben would have used it to kill all the 'invaders' at least as a final resort.... and if he couldn't he would have found a way to make it happen.

except that

- Ben was pretty much harmless now (being Locke's captive) and they knew it

- many years had passed on the island without the gas causing a problem, so why the sudden rush ? all the more so than their "solution" was very likely to cause more harm than good (a hell of a lot more harm since every islander could've been killed). if it ain't broke, don't fix it

- they were the only ones with gas masks. C&D would've survived the gas, not the losties, so they had no reason to distrust Jack & co. in this matter (unless they somehow believed the losties intended to commit mass suicide by releasing the gas -)

[SgaIsBad]

I really hope they clarify about the gas issue

[Devid]

Really this Episodes is Pretty cool........

[Qtyled]

except that

- Ben was pretty much harmless now (being Locke's captive) and they knew it

The hostiles could have activated the gas. (In the past Ben only helped them gain access to the station)

- many years had passed on the island without the gas causing a problem, so why the sudden rush ? all the more so than their "solution" was very likely to cause more harm than good (a hell of a lot more harm since every islander could've been killed). if it ain't broke, don't fix it

Because for many years no one had come to the island. Now they were coming the natives could use it to kill them, ala Dharma. Their 'solution' wasn't risky because they had gas masks in case they screwed up. (they had no idea the losties would be on the island, which ended up complicating the issue).

So the situation is the following:
1. Let the hostiles activate the gas - killing the freighter folk AND the losties. (The hostiles would probably be safe since "the temple" appears to be on high ground.)
2. Make the gas inert. Risky, but prevents certain death by the hostiles.