Note 10 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Financial Guaranty Segment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Financial Guaranty Segment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Financial Guaranty Segment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Financial Guaranty Segment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Project Finance Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Greece [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Greece [Member]
Claim liability at beginning of period	$ 83,000,000	$ 80,600,000	$ 60,500,000	$ 67,400,000		$ 23,100,000	$ 4,400,000
(Decrease)/increase in gross claim liability	(25,400,000)	22,400,000	161,700,000	41,700,000
Decrease/(increase) in gross potential recoveries	109,900,000	(30,000,000)	(191,700,000)	(33,200,000)
(Decrease)/increase in discount	(80,500,000)	(2,500,000)	66,100,000	(5,800,000)
(Decrease)/increase in unearned premiums	(1,200,000)	3,400,000	(1,900,000)	4,000,000
Incurred losses and LAE	2,800,000	(6,700,000)	34,200,000	6,700,000
Paid Losses and LAE Current Year	(300,000)	(200,000)	(300,000)	(200,000)
Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years	7,100,000	(2,900,000)	(1,800,000)	(3,100,000)
Paid losses and LAE	6,800,000	(3,100,000)	(2,100,000)	(3,300,000)
Claim liability at end of period	92,600,000	70,800,000	92,600,000	70,800,000		23,100,000	4,400,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims Current Year	100,000	0	100,000	0
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims, Prior Years	2,700,000	(6,700,000)	34,100,000	6,700,000
Total incurred	2,800,000	(6,700,000)	34,200,000	6,700,000
Components of (decrease)/increase in discount [Abstract]
(Decrease)/increase in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period	(84,900,000)	0	65,700,000	(100,000)
Increase/(decrease) in discount related to existing claim liabilites	4,400,000	(2,500,000)	400,000	(5,700,000)
Total (decrease)/increase in discount	(80,500,000)	(2,500,000)	66,100,000	(5,800,000)
Net Par Outstanding					$ 69,000,000