Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., lauded the protests that have swept Iraq in recent months and urged Baghdad to take steps to remove Iranian missiles from its territory during a Middle East Mornings breakfast interview with Al-Monitor president, Andrew Parasiliti.

“The protests, I believe, are deeply legitimate,” Slotkin said. “These are young people who don’t remember Saddam. They are protesting corruption and the lack of opportunity like we see in places like Lebanon. And they are protesting against outside influence.”

Slotkin, a first-term lawmaker, previously served as a CIA analyst specializing in Iraqi Shiite militias. After winning her election in a tightly contested district last year, she took a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. Earlier this month, she traveled to Iraq with committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash.

The Michigan Democrat noted that the rallies took an “anti-Iranian” turn during their visit but warned that the demonstrators are also pushing back against the United States as part of their protests against “outside influence.”