Do they David? I don't know, they seem to be quite serious about avoiding any potential bloodshed. Remember Chirac, sitting in the White House next to Bush sometime after 9-11: "What will you do?" he asked, with a perplexed look on his face. And he was!
Yes, on the second point. It took place far away from home and would only reinforce their views to appease the Islamaniacs even more. The French are great rationalizers.