Lets try and keep in mind that we have 2 somewhat seperate issues here.
France hasn't drawn the ire of Muslims for their stand on Iraq, but they have pissed them off all on their own with the ban on headscarves in french school classrooms.
Don't forget that the US has quite a history of running away from terrorists. If you doubt me look up the events around the bombing of the marines in Beruit. Who was president you may ask...that tough macho republican Ronald Reagan.