Echo company got into a gunfight in August 2009 in Afghanistan's Helmand province. You’ll learn that by reading the report found in WikiLeaks' database. You'll learn that, after a chase, the marines killed one insurgent. You'll learn that the insurgents supposedly fled and that the troops – part of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines – decided to stay the night in the area, in case the militants returned.

What you won't learn is that a marine sniper team sparked the shoot-out with a surprise assault on the insurgents; that every member of that team was nearly killed in the battle; that the incident would kick off a three-day siege in which the Taliban nearly had the Echo company squad surrounded; that this spot eventually became an Echo company base; or that, while this extended gun fight was going on, British and Afghan troops were nearby, waging a more gentle form of counterinsurgency as they sat cross-legged under shady patches of farmland and talked with village elders.

I happen to know this because I was there with Echo company, reporting for Wired magazine. And the wide difference between what actually happened at the Moba Khan compound and what the report says happened there should give caution to those who think they can discover the capital-T truth about the Afghanistan conflict solely through the WikiLeaks war logs.

It should also give pause to those officers in military headquarters who count on these updates to learn about what's happening on the front lines. The military has a problem in how it talks to itself. These reports – ultra-compressed, and focused solely on the bombs-and-bullets part of the war – are a symptom of that shaky reporting system. They have their utility, of course. But they're not smart or broad enough for the complexities of a war like Afghanistan.

(Note: My article in today's Wall Street Journal has more. Go through Google News to read it, if you're not a subscriber.)

After the jump, you'll find a week's worth of WikiLeaked reports from Echo Company. For all the combat that's recorded, it's actually just a slice of the action those Marines saw during that short time. Also, check out how this terse notice of a bomb dropped on Moba Khan differs from what actually went down.

WHEN: 23 1150D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0935 1925, 2KM SE OF COP SHER

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED PATROL, E/2/8 RECEIVED MG AND SAF FROM AN EN FORCE IN A TREELINE TO THE PATROLS SOUTH. UNIT DECLARED TIC AND REQUESTED AIR SUPPORT. THE UNIT UTILIZED MORTARS TO MARK ENEMY POSITIONS FOR CAS. (1) 60MM AND (1) 81MM ROUND WERE FIRED. REPENT 68 (COBRAS) CONDUCTED A GUN AND ROCKET RUN (. (5) 2.75 RKTS; (100) 20MM GUNS; (150) .50 CAL; (350) 7.62) ON THE TREELINE AS THE PATROL MANEUVERED. SPORADIC SAF FROM THE TREELINE CEASED AS THE PATROL APPROACHED. THE PATROL CLEARED THE TREELINE AND FOUND (4) PREPARED EN FIGHTING POSITIONS, SPENT BRASS, AND FOOTPRINTS INDICATING THE ENEMY EGRESSED SOUTH EAST. ICOM CHATTER INDICATED THE IMPACTS WERE RIGHT ON TO OF THE EN POS BUT E/2/8 CANNOT CONFIRM EN WIA OR KIA. TIC WAS CLOSED AT 1303D. ECHO 2/8 HAS LAUNCHED A RAVEN UAV TO MAINTAIN OVER WATCH OF THE AREA.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF REF # 08-2711 (CLOSED)

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** DELETED DUPLICATE SIGACT 41RPQ09740241002009-08#2711.03 ***

Summary from deleted report:

E COY 2/8 USMC reported while conducting a NFO, FF were attacked by INS with a MG burst. FF returned fire and moved NW. INS were dropped off by a white van. The van did not return to P/U. FF informed G COY of BOLO for white van.

UPDATE 1145D*

FF declearing TIC ATT

UPDATE 1206D*

FF executing a gun run with USMC A/C on INS entrenchement in treeline.

UPDATE 1224D*

FF are currently maneuvering on to INS posn. FF plans on using SBF posn to the E and 81mm FM IOT allow CF SQD to close with INS. FF is co-ord poss rockets and gun run to follow. Unit contiunes to receive SAF from treeline.

UPDATE 1303D*

Unit closes TIC, BDAR will be submitted when available and attached to this event. BDA: no battle damage.

BDAR-1718D*:

FF fired 5 x rockets, 100 x 20mm, 150 x .50, 350 x 7.62, 81mm RP and 1 x 60mm HE. These were fired at 41R PQ 0947 1911 (iGEOSit shows that the above mentioned grids correspond to a non populated area), a tree line with an irrigation ditch. There is a small compound and mud huts adjacent the tree line. Mortars were used to supress and mark for casualties. A mixed section of AH-1W COBRA and UH-1N HUEY conducted a rockets and gun run on the target suppressing the INS which allowed the squad to close on the position. Assessed good suppressive effect, INTEL indicated effects were accurate IVO INS but could not confirm any INS killeed/wounded. The squad manoeuvred on the tree line after the rockets and gun run to find prepared fighting position with brass and shell casings. Foot prints and marks in the mud indicated the INS had withdrawn to the SE out of the target area. After conducting the BDA the squad returned to COP SHER. Shortly after the engagement a blue VAN which had the window shot out in an earlier engagement with FF that morning arrived at the tree line. The FF launched a RAVEN to continue to track the VEH IOT determine its involvement in the TIC. In this rural vegetated/light urban area, there were no PID CIV. No damage to infrastructure was reported. Compliant with ROE, higher HQ was aware. The INS engaged presented, in the opinion of the ground forces, an imminent threat.

***Event closed at 1309D*

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WHEN: 24 0945D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 07904 19964, 1.1KM SW OF COP SHER

WHAT: IED FIND

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 DISCOVERED AN 18" METAL TUBE PLACED IN A CORNFIELD NEXT TO A TREELINE. A CORDON WAS SET, EOD CONDUCTED A CONTROLLED DETONATION. WHILE COLLAPSING THE CORDON AROUND THE SITE, ECHO 2/8 RECEIVED A FEW BURSTS OF SAF. THE PATROL HAS RETURNED TO OP WEST.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08-2803 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 25 0900D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0994 2336

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 2B RECEIVED MG AND SAF FROM 5-6 INDIVIDUALS. TIC WAS DECLARED. THE PATROL RETURNED FIRE AND CAS WAS REQUESTED. AT 0914D, EN FIRE CEASED AND ENEMY FORCES WERE SEEN EGRESSING NORTH. THE PATROL THEN BEGAN RECEIVING SAF FROM ENEMY TO THE SOUTH OF THEIR POS. THE PATROL RETURNED FIRE, REPORTING (1) ENKIA. THE PATROL RECEIVED ADDITIONAL SAF AND R/W CAS CONDUCTED A GUN RUN ON ENEMY POSITIONS IN A TREELINE. AFTER DECONFLICTING AIR, E/2/8 ENGAGED THE TREELINE AS WELL WITH (1) 81MM MORTAR. ICOMM CHATTER INDICATED THAT EN FORCES WERE ATTEMPTING TO REACH A VEHICLE AND DEPART THE AREA. R/W CAS WAS TASKED TO FIND AND ENGAGE THE VEHICLE. ECHO CO DISPATCHED A SQUAD TO REINFORCE THE PATROL. 2/8 WILL MAINTAIN A PRESENCE IN THE AREA FOR THE NEXT 24HRS.

EXPENDITURE: RP68 (6) 2.75 (150) 20MM / RP69 (50) 50 CAL (500) 7.62

BDA: (1) EN KIA

ISAF # 08-2888 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 25 1236D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41RPQ 07453 19298

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: AN ECHO 2/8 PATROL RECEIVED SAF AND MG FIRE FROM EN IN A TREELINE AND DECLARED TIC. THE PATROL RETURNED FIRE AND REQUESTED AIR SUPPORT. ECHO 2/8 ENGAGED THE TREELINE WITH ARTILLERY. ENEMY FIRES FROM THE TREELINE CEASED, HOWEVER THE PATROL BEGAN RECEIVING WELL AIMED SAF FROM A BUILDING, TARGETING THE PATROLS RADIO OPERATOR'S. THE UNIT REQUESTED BUT DID NOT FIRE A HIMARS MISSION AGAINST THE BUILDING. ENEMY CONTACT CEASED AND TIC WAS CLOSED AT 1455D.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08- 2907 (CLOSED)

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ECHO 2/8 MAINTAINED PRESENCE OVERNIGHT AT THE SITE OF ENGAGEMENT YESTERDAY. THE PATROL RECEIVED SAF AND MG FIRE FROM A BUILDING AND DECLARED TIC. CAS WAS REQUESTED AND E/2/8 ENGAGED EN POSTIONS WITH SAF AND 81MM MORTARS. THE PATROL ESTABLISHED PID OF ENEMY FIGHTERS IN A HARDENED STRUCTURE AND REQUESTED A HIMARS MISSION. (2) ROCKETS WERE FIRED AND IMPACTED 90M EAST OF THE INTENDED TARGET POSSIBLY DUE TO OPERATOR ERROR AT THE LAUNCHER. ROTARY WING CAS CONDUCTED A GUN AND ROCKET RUN ON THE STRUCTURE. EN FIRE CONTINUED SPORADICALLY. UTILIZING A GBOSS TOWER THE UNIT OBSERVED EF EGRESS FROM THE BUILDING AND TAKE UP FIGHTING POSTIONS IN A TREELINE. E/2/8 ENGAGED THE TREELINE POSTIONS WITH ARTILLERY AND SAF. THE PATROL THEN BEGAN RECEIVING WELL AIMED SAF FROM AN ABANDONED COMPOUND. THIS SAME COMPOUND WAS USED BY THE EN IN YESTERDAYS ENGAGEMENT. PRIMAL 31 (HARRIER) DROPPED (1) GBU-12 ON THE COMPOUND EFFECTIVELY SUPRESSING THE EN THREAT. EN FORCES RE-ENGAGED THE MARINES FROM THE BUILDING THAT WAS THE TARGET OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL HIMARS MISSION. E/2/8 ENGAGED WITH 81 AND 60 MM MORTARS. AT 1304, ENEMY FIRES CEASED. THE TIC WAS DECLARED CLOSED AT 1345D. ECHO 2/8 WILL REMAIN IN OVERWATCH OF THE AREA FOR THE NEXT 24 HRS.

ECHO 2/8 BELIEVES THE WELL AIMED SAF FROM THE ENGAGEMENTS TODAY AND YESTERDAY MAY BE INDICATORS OF AN EN SNIPER IN THE AREA.

EXPENDITURES: (1) GBU-12, (2) HIMARS, (18) 155MM, (19) 60MM, (19) 81MM, (13) 2.75 ROCKETS, (300) 20MM CANNON, (300) .50CAL, (1200) 7.62MM.

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WHEN: 26 1700D AUGUST 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0758 1954

WHAT: IED FINDS

EVENT: WHILE ON PATROL ALONG RTE REDSKINS, ECHO 2/8 LOCATED (2) IEDS. (1) DIRECTIONAL FRAG WITH A COMMAND WIRE, AND (1) DIRECTIONAL FRAG WITH A PULL RELEASE. BOTH DEVICES WERE PLACED ALONG A FOOT TRAIL, TO TARGET DISMOUNTED TROOPS. EOD WAS ON SCENE AND CONDUCTED A CONTROLLED DETONATION OF BOTH DEVICES.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGES REPORTED.

ISAF # PENDING (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 27 0745D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 1011 2384, 3.5KM NE OF COP SHER

WHAT: ENGAGEMENT

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 RECEIVED SAF FROM A TEAM SIZED EN FORCE POSITIONED APPROX. 300M TO THE NORTH. E/2/8 RESPONDED WITH SAF.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08-3076 (C

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WHEN: 27 1008D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 1023 2339, 3KM NE OF COP SHER ALONG RTE BENGALS

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL ALONG RTE BENGALS, E/2/8 RECEIVED SAF FROM 6-8 EN FIGHTERS POSITIONED APPROX. 400M TO THE NW. E/2/8 DECLARED TIC AT 1008D. E/2/8 RESPONDED WITH SAF AND 81MM MORTARS EFFECTIVELY CAUSING THE EN TO FLEE NORTH. RP68 WAS ON STATION ISO OF TIC.

AT 1029D, E/2/8 DECLARED THE TIC CLOSED.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08-3068 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 27 1237D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0774 1960 1.4KM SW OF COP SHER

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 RECEIVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MG AND SAF. TIC WAS DECLARED AND THE UNIT RESPONDED WITH SAF, (4) 81MM, AND (6) 155MM ARTILLERY RNDS . AT 1302D, E/2/8 REPORTED THAT THE EN FIRE HAD CEASED. TIC WAS CLOSED AT 1328D.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08-3086 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 27 1707D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0744 1941

WHAT: TIC

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 RECEIVED HEAVY ACCURATE MG AND SAF FROM 6-8 EN FIGHTERS POSITIONED IN THE TREELINE(AK3231) AND A BLDG(AF3722). TIC WAS DECLARED. THE EN WAS MAKING A PUSH TO OVERRUN FRIENDLY POSITION. E/2/8 RESPONDED WITH (2) 155MM EXCAL , (6) 155MM HE, AND (5) 60MM MOTARS ON BOTH TARGETS. BOTH 155MM EXCAL RNDS WERE DUDS, HOWEVER (1) ROUND COLLAPSED THE EASTERN ROOF OF THE TGT BLD. THE ENEMY WAS SUPPRESSED, FIRE CEASED AND TIC WAS CLOSED.

BDA: (1) EKIA, AND POSSIBLE EWIA. DAMAGES TO THE TGT BUILDING.

ISAF # 08-3119 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 27 1747D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0929 1904

WHAT: ENGAGEMENT

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 REPORTED RECEIVING SAF FROM AN UNKNOWN SIZED EN FORCE, RESULTING IN (1) URGENT CASUALTY. E/2/8 RETURNED FIRE WITH (3) 60MM MORTAR RNDS. THE ENEMY FIGHTING POSITIONS WERE SUPPRESSED, FIRE CEASED AND TIC WAS CLOSED. ECHO 2/8 EGRESSED BACK TO OP PALACE.

E/2/8 REQUESTED AN URGENT MEDEVAC AND THE CASUALTY WAS TRANSPORTED TO DWYER WHERE HE UNDER WENT SURGERY. HE WAS LATER TRANSFERRED TO BSN ROLE 3 FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.

BDA: (1) USMC WIA

ISAF # 08-3126 (CLOSED)

MEDEVAC # 08- 27K (COMPLETE)

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***INITIAL REPORT***

ECHO 2/8 REPORTED RECEIVING 5-7 RDS OF MACHINE GUN FIRE FROM A TREELINE. ANA WITH THE UNITENGAGED THE ENEMY WITH MG AND RPG FIRE. COALITION FORCES ARE INVESTIGATING THE AREA.

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WHEN: 28 1300D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 0789 1974, 1.2KM SW OF COP SHER ALONG RTE REDSKINS

WHAT: IED FIND

EVENT: WHILE CONDUCTING A DISMOUNTED LOCAL SECURITY PATROL, E/2/8 DISCOVERED AN IED. A CORDON WAS SET. EOD ON SCENE EXPLOITED THE SITE AND CONFIRMED THE IED TO CONSIST OF A BURIED METAL TUBE APPROX. 18" x 8" FILLED WITH ANAL (AMMONIUM NITRATE / ALUMINUM POWDER). EOD CONDUCTED A CONTROLLED DETONATION AT 1317D AND CONTINUED MISSION.

BDA: NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE REPORTED.

ISAF # 08-3174 (CLOSED)

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WHEN: 29 1200D AUG 09

WHO: ECHO 2/8

WHERE: 41R PQ 09800 23800

WHAT: ENGAGEMENT

EVENT: E/2/8 CONDUCTED A DISMOUNTED PATROL TO MAKE INTRODUCTION TO LOCAL ELDERS AT VILLAGE TAI 1. THE PAST TIMES E/2/8 HAS BEEN THERE THEY HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT CONTACT. AS THE PATROL WAS APPROACHING, THE VILLAGERS BEGAN FLEEING AND ICOMM CHATTER INDICATED THAT THE EF IN THE VILLAGE WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAUNCH AN IED INITIATED ATTACK ON E/2/8. (1) INDIVIDUAL WAS OBSERVED WITH A RADIO AND ICOMM CONFIRMED HE WAS DIRECTING OTHERS TO GET INTO PLACE TO INITIATE CONTACT. THE PATROL'S DESIGNATED MARKSMAN ENGAGED THE EN COORDINATORS RESULTING IN (1) EWIA. AFTER THE SHOT THE ICOMM INDICATED THAT THE EF HAD BEEN OBSERVED AND ENGAGED AND THE LEADER GAVE THE ORDER FOR EF TO WITHDRAW. THE PATROL CONTINUED MISSION TO THE VILLAGE BUT DID NOT ENCOUNTER LOCAL ELDERS

BDA: (1) EWIA

ISAF # 08-3256 (CLOSED)

Photo: Noah Shachtman

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