"Yes, there was embarrassment."
Not really.
Oh, sure, the political establishment was shocked, SHOCKED! that anyone would say such a thing was going on involving FRANCE! Heavens forfend.
And the political damage in France?
The number of votes lost?
Zero.
The Arab world is a backwards cesspool of oppression.
They're going to kill each other - may as well profit from it by selling them arms (if we don't, the Russians will).
We all need oil.
So if the the US and Britain are going to rule themselves out of the market by absurd UN sanctions, well, that just makes for a sweeter deal for France.
Obviously if the US Administration are going to be so gauche as to start preening about having discovered French IMMORALITY (again, we're shocked!, Shocked, I tell you!), there will be French remonstration. Particularly when the US is up to its eyeballs in Saudi Arabia.
The whole "corrupt France breaking the sanctions" business is for American domestic consumption anyway. OF COURSE France breaks sanctions, and does whatever else she needs to do to preserve her vital national interests. Who doesn't?
"that anyone would say such a thing was going on involving FRANCE!"
LOL, that was actually funny.
Thanks.