Note 12 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding in Sovereign and Non-Sovereign International Public Finance Obligations	$ 3,200,000,000
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	495,400,000
Public Finance and Structured Finance [Member]
Claim liability at beginning of period	67,400,000	121,800,000	211,500,000
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability	68,100,000	86,200,000	(6,000,000)
Increase in gross potential recoveries	(76,100,000)	(74,200,000)	(42,600,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount	7,500,000	(1,900,000)	69,600,000
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums	4,600,000	(1,100,000)	20,700,000
Incurred losses and LAE	4,100,000	9,000,000	41,700,000
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE Current Year	0	(1,600,000)	(25,400,000)
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years	(11,000,000)	(61,800,000)	(106,000,000)
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE	(11,000,000)	(63,400,000)	(131,400,000)
Claim liability at end of period	60,500,000	67,400,000	121,800,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Claim liability established in current period	2,200,000	1,700,000	54,100,000
Changes in existing claim liabilities	1,900,000	7,300,000	(12,400,000)
Total incurred losses and LAE	4,100,000	9,000,000	41,700,000
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period	200,000	(6,300,000)	(4,700,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilites	7,300,000	4,400,000	74,300,000
Total decrease (increase) in discount	7,500,000	(1,900,000)	69,600,000
Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]
Claim liability at end of period	2,500,000	4,300,000	6,600,000
Spain [Member]
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	47,000,000
Greece [Member]
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	30,100,000
Claim Liability on International Exposure	4,400,000
Italy [Member]
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	22,400,000
Portugal [Member]
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	1,300,000
Ireland [Member]
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk	$ 0