Banning Iranian aircraft from their airports may sound like a clever show of obedience to Washington. But Tehran could simply return the favor and impose the same restrictions on the far busier airports of the Arab dictatorships.

The irony is almost too perfect: monarchies voluntarily helping Washington "squeeze Iran" while Washington's own policies are actively disrupting the region's security, trade, energy flows and economies.

Well, nothing says "strategic independence" quite like taking instructions from the power actively setting your neighborhood on fire.