Note 12 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)		12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 International Public Finance Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Public Finance and Structured Finance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Public Finance and Structured Finance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Public Finance and Structured Finance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Project Finance Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Greece [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Soverign Risk [Member] country	Dec. 31, 2012 Soverign Risk [Member] International Public Finance Obligations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Spain [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HUNGARY	Dec. 31, 2012 Greece [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Italy [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Portugal [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Ireland [Member]
Net Par Outstanding	$ 2,900,000,000							$ 69,900,000			$ 171,800,000
Number Of Stressed European Countries										6
Statutory Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Claims Paid									23,500,000
Claim liability at beginning of period		60,550,000	67,447,000	121,833,000	2,000,000	2,500,000	4,300,000
Increase (decrease) in gross claim liability		188,222,000	68,082,000	86,224,000
Increase in gross potential recoveries		(235,787,000)	(76,105,000)	(74,157,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount		84,646,000	7,506,000	(1,939,000)
Decrease (increase) in unearned premiums		95,000	4,668,000	(1,085,000)
Incurred losses and LAE		37,176,000	4,151,000	9,044,000
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE Current Year		(4,000)	0	(1,636,000)
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years		(33,431,000)	(11,048,000)	(61,794,000)
Significant Components of Change in Financial Guaranty Claim Liability, Paid Losses and LAE		(33,435,000)	(11,048,000)	(63,430,000)
Claim liability at end of period		64,291,000	60,550,000	67,447,000	2,000,000	2,500,000	4,300,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Claim liability established in current period		9,063,000	2,254,000	1,714,000
Changes in existing claim liabilities		28,113,000	1,897,000	7,330,000
Total incurred losses and LAE		37,176,000	4,151,000	9,044,000
Components of increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease (increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period		81,061,000	177,000	(6,377,000)
Decrease (increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilites		3,585,000	7,329,000	4,438,000
Total decrease (increase) in discount		84,646,000	7,506,000	(1,939,000)
International Exposure [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding of Sovereign Risk												$ 47,500,000	$ 22,500,000	$ 0	$ 20,500,000	$ 900,000	$ 0