The official is usually completely hidden by the reporters, television cameras, and fuzzy microphone booms. The whole assemblage moves through the lobby like a weird, multilegged creature with antennas. And this beast has a bite as well. Sometimes the ministers' bodyguards punch and kick at overintrusive cameras. But this was a cheerful gathering.
Oil prices are up again.
And OPEC and the Saudis seem determined to prolong the good times for as long as they can. There seems to be little interest in heeding Western warnings that continued high prices could lead to recession. After all, not long ago, when the U.S. economy was humming along and OPEC and the oil industry were dismissed as Old Economy, there was little talk about giving OPEC members, many of which experienced severe financial strain, a helping hand. Nobody came to their rescue in 1998. Privately, OPEC officials seemed quite satisfied to see financial speculators in the U.S. humbled.