Who cares about Saddam Hussein's tomb when Isis are obliterating empires?

Islamic State cowards have destroyed the Assyrian empire, but the world’s media glare is on a concrete mausoleum. Only our museums have the guts to protect our precious art history

So now we know the truth. An entire civilisation can be eradicated and the world will look the other way. No one will care except a few bleating art lovers.

It is less than a fortnight since it became clear that Islamic State was destroying every trace of the ancient Assyrian empire in the parts of Iraq it controls. At first there was disbelief – exacerbated by irresponsible interpretations of a video in which some of the antiquities being smashed appeared to be fakes – then numb horror when the bulldozing of ancient Nimrud was confirmed.

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