French diplomacy is a potato to the highest bidder.  They also have a very short historical memory when it comes to who liberated who.
Here is the plan.  We set off a tac nuke at Sadams nuke factory.  Call it an industrial accident.  Everyone then will think he has them.  Then nuke France and blame it on him.
I don't want to nuke babies and children, but hell, what is the use of having a hole card if we never play it.  The Anaconda valley operation would have been perfect for a nuke.
Sure, everyone would have complained, but they would have noticed our resolve and would think better of pissing us off.