Lincoln Park Neighbors United for Peace has charted a unique course among Chicago's anti-war groups, focusing almost exclusively on pressuring legislators to stand up to the Bush administration's Middle East agenda. And while LPNUFP members have done their share of street noise, they've also gone to great lengths to meet their elected representatives face-to-face and press their case for peace.

Since 2003 the group has met with Reps. Rahm Emanuel (5th District), Danny Davis (7th), and Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. Emanuel has been the key target, and while so far LPNUFP's efforts can't be labeled as a success, an independent analysis of their visits sheds light on this key Democratic strategist's evolving position on Iraq and the next potential flashpoint, Iran.

This analysis will be published on Monday afternoon to give Emanuel's office a chance to comment. This is part of an ongoing effort to assess "inside" and "outside" tactics employed by the Chicago-area peace movement.