Do whatever it takes to protect priceless historical sites like Nimrud and Hatra from further destruction in Iraq

Recently the Islamic State has taken it upon themselves to destroy priceless historical artifacts that are not only of invaluable cultural importance to the people of Iraq but to the people of the world. The loss of buildings in Nimrud is a shock to the story of humanity itself let alone a barbaric sin against those who came before us who put their very beings into those early cities in the Cradle of Civilization. Whether the beautiful Hatra is next, or any other place or artifact, this cannot be allowed to continue. Human life may be fleeting, but those places and objects have the potential to last forever. The US government should work quickly and concisely with UNESCO to set up defenses around these priceless places and defend their survival not just for us, but all future generations.