Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

A 22-year-old soldier has become the 11th Australian to be killed in Afghanistan but
the federal government says it's "rock solid" in its commitment to the war, even as
the danger intensifies.
Private Benjamin Ranaudo, a member of the Force Protection Combat Team, was killed
and another soldier seriously wounded when a bomb went off while they were on foot
patrol at a "compound of interest" during an operation in the Baluchi Valley.
Three Afghan civilians, including an eight-year-old child, were also injured in the
explosion.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid tribute to a "fine Australian soldier", whose death
was a reminder of why the nation was continuing the fight against terrorism.
"This brave Australian soldier has paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country," Mr
Rudd told reporters.
And, just two days after three Australians were killed in a terrorist attack in
Jakarta, Mr Rudd said it was important to remember Afghanistan had long been a
training ground for terrorists worldwide.
"(It reminds) us of the reasons that we are in that field of combat," he said.
"It is in our long-term interest that we remain absolutely rock solid in our
commitment there."
The Saturday morning incident occurred 25 kilometres north of Tarin Kowt while the
soldiers were carrying out a cordon and search operation.
Pte Ranaudo was based at the 1st battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in
Townsville.
He had been in the military just over three years and had previously served in East
Timor.
Australian Defence Force head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said Pt Ranaudo had
served "enthusiastically and with distinction".
"He died ensuring that terrorist groups do not have Afghanistan as a base from which
they can plan and mount attacks," he said in a statement.
He is the 11th Australian digger to be killed in Afghanistan since the war began and
the fourth this year.
The wounded soldier and three Afghan civilians were airlifted to a medical facility
in Tarin Kowt.
The soldier, who has had surgery for life-threatening wounds, will be moved to a
Kandahar hospital on Sunday before he is sent to Germany to recover.
Pte Ranaudo's death is the first on the watch of new Defence Minister John Faulkner,
who told reporters the nation's thoughts were with the soldier's family.
"We are engaged, with the international community, in a very, very challenging
campaign and I remind you all that this fighting will become more fierce as the
(Afghan) summer progresses," Senator Faulkner said.
Despite the death of the soldier, Australia's continued role in Afghanistan could
still be justified, he said.
"As difficult as this news is, we must not forget the direct impact that terrorists
have in our own region and of course have had on the lives of fellow Australians,"
he said.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, who recently visited Afghanistan, said it was
another "horrific reminder" the global fight from terrorism was far from over.
"These indiscriminate bombings illustrate why it is vitally important to defeat the
scourge of terrorism, in Afghanistan as elsewhere," he said in a statement.
Neil James, from the Australian Defence Association, told AAP that Australia needed
to be committed to winning the war in Afghanistan.
"As both sides of politics are committed ... the government really needs to make
sure that we win and not reach the situation where the lives tragically lost so far
have been lost in vain," he said.
Australia has around 1,550 troops in Afghanistan after boosting its commitment
earlier this year in the run-up to Afghan elections next month.