Feb. 11, 2003 -- NEW YORK (APJP) -- First, we have to give a tip of the hat to "Szwed", who alerted us to this story and further information posted to Democratic Underground).

Apparently, MSNBC.com decided to scrub part of an early Web version of their news article on the newly-broadcast tape rant allegedly emanating from Osama bin Laden.

The news story no longer contains the following passage:

THE SPEAKER on the tape, aired on the al-Jazeera Arab satellite station, described al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan withstanding heavy U.S. bombardment by hiding in trenches.

“With all the might of the enemy, they were unable to defeat us and take over that position. ... We hope that our brothers in Iraq will do the same as we did,” said the voice.

The speaker said the United States was waging a psychological war against Iraq and urged Muslims to stage suicide attacks on Americans.

At the same time, the message also called on Iraqis to rise up and oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who is a secular leader.

He said Muslims who go along with the United States in a war against Iraq were infidels and should be seen as targets of a jihad, or holy war.

“We are following with great concern the preparations of the crusaders to launch war on the former capital of Muslims and to install a puppet government,” said the speaker.

An alternate version of the story contains this crucial "correction":

THE STATEMENT also calls Iraqi President Saddam Hussein an "infidel," but stresses that the paramount battle for Muslims is with the United States and its allies.
(An initial, extemporaneous translation mistakenly quoted the speaker as calling on Iraqis to overthrow Saddam Hussein.)

One DU poster noted that MSNBC afternoon anchorman Les Holt "just introed news saying it 'clearly expresses solidarity w/ Iraqi people but not Saddam.' (damn close to direct quote at 4:21 pm)".

So what DID Osama actually say?

We can only guess that it's going to be a while until a neutral and disinterested translation of Osama's latest malicious pap is available.

Whatever turns out to be the case -- and both of MSNBC's "flavors" of the story may well be close to the truth, but inaccurate -- it is quickly becoming clear that corporate media is playing down a de facto rift between Osama and Saddam, a fact that reveals the spin that has been pressed for the last weeks from the people surrounding former Texas governor Goerge W. Bush as nothing but another big lie.