The 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge was 142 miles from Barstow, California through mountains, deserts, and even some highway roads to Primm, Nevada. The route from Baghdad to Kirkuk is roughly 160 miles through mountains, deserts, and even some highways. This is why the US government sees a use and is funding DARPA Grand Challenge autonomous racing. Work coming out of the DARPA Grand Challenge will save soldier's lives.