In early 2003, President George W. Bush ordered the United States military to invade Iraq. The objective was to overthrow Saddam Hussein, the current President of Iraq, and subdue the threat of them gaining weapons that could potentially arm Islamic terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda (Benson). With limited support from their allies and the United Nations, the U.S. military created a coalition formed with a fraction of their allies. They overran Iraq's military forces and gained control of the region within three weeks. The invasion led to the Iraq War, which lasted from March 2003 to December 2011. The effects of war are always painful and tragic; however, the world was not prepared for one of the outcomes of this fight. The United States had been fighting in the Iraq War for the past year and in the spring of 2004, CBS released a story on 60 Minutes II that stunned the world (Braziunaite). Pictures upon pictures of Iraqi prisoners being tortured by United States soldiers appalled viewers. The images showed horrifying acts, such as physical and sexual abuse. The U.S. military prided itself on upholding freedoms and fighting to maintain inalienable rights. For that reason, the awful pictures exposed infuriated and horrified organizations, leaders, and people worldwide. During this time, the international community responded negatively to the Abu Ghraib scandal, as seen in opposition protests that erupted throughout the world. This negative response is significant because it led to strained relationships between the United States and international organizations. The disapproval not only caused harm to many but also damaged the US’s reputation within the international community.