Well, I think a case can be made that they have economic value. In tandem with the archaeological sites, they would draw tourists, same as in Egypt. Freeper Physicist did an economic analysis on one of these threads.
Not quite. They have the potential to be of some economic value in a stable Iraq. The country's future depends on the oil, not some hoped for tourism.
BTW, very few people are arguing their economical worth , instead they argue their historical worth ... and that is not worth one solider's life.