If, as Goethe said, you can judge someone's character by how they treat those who can do nothing for them, an episode in Afghanistan reveals much about Mike Waltz’s character. And that story is worth sharing now, as it shines a light on who he is and why America needs him on the front lines.

Waltz, President Trump’s embattled national security advisor, is of course in the eye of a storm right now, as he appears to have added a journalist to a highly sensitive text thread on the messaging app Signal. Some have called for Waltz to resign or for President Trump to fire him.

That would be a terrible outcome for America. In full disclosure, I am biased when talking about Waltz: I featured him in my book about American military heroes, “Valor: Unsung Heroes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front.” The book recounts the 2006 incident in which Waltz earned his first Bronze Star with valor and what he did beyond the combat heroics, which reflects even more on his character.

At that time, Waltz advanced America’s effort in Afghanistan in two different capacities. In his “regular” job, he led the Pentagon’s counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan. He also served as an Army reserve captain, leading a special operations unit.

Waltz’s unit respected him — his senior enlisted medic told me that........

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