The most major political damage would be if the US were to back down in the Face of French opposition.

To do so would completely undermine the US in all areas of foreign relations as it would prove to the world that the US, even with all of its perceived militarrrry and political clout, is really as weak, if not weaker, than every two-bit dictator on Earth so long as that dictator is able to buddy-up to the French, Russians, or some other Veto-power holder.

Not finishing off Sadam would be a diplomatic disaster...The French have made it a certainty by putting all of their cards on the table.

They as a result will be the real diplomatic losers when the stage in Iraq is reset. They will weild no input on Iraq's future, and as such, they may be shut out of the Middle East in its entirety.

Scott