"ANd I suspect do not have the manpower etc to protect themselves from within; therefore, are playing timid."
Remember that Chirac is from the center right party in France. They want to at least appear relevant. But if the UN is shown to be totally irrelevant and NATO goes on without them, they won't have any international institutions on which to strut.
"any international institutions on which to strut." They have been dependant on others to protect them for a LOooooooonnnng time. the "helpless female syndrome"