They could be fake, they could be real.
The fact that the mere idea of them being real isn't laughable in and of itself says more about France than whether or not some local museum is having a erruption of Anit-American idiocy.
It is time that the US stopped pretending that the French are allies, or even friends. They're at best wannabe, ridiculously envious rivals, and most often a passle of ankle-biting brats whose confidence is derived purely from the knowledge that we won't stoop to the sort of behaviour they manifested back when they were on top.
We should treat France the same way we would treat any other envious has-been pipsqueak - ignore them, and go about our business. The only thing that grants 'le France' any 'importance' is our archaic and anachronistic habit of treating them as important.
France is culturally decayed, economically stagnant, politically backward, and scientifically void. It has nothing to offer, so why do so many people insist on paying it such undeserved attention.
Take Spain - better food, better wine, nicer culture. Take Italy - prettier monuments, nicer food. Heck, take pretty much any country in Europe - you'll find a better economy, nicer buildings, livelier culture, and certainly better prospects for the future.
Of course, considering that France is well into the process of dying out, since even French women can't stand French men, that's all relative I suppose.