Note 9 - Financial Guaranty Insurance Contracts Schedule of Significant Components Of Change In Financial Guaranty Claim Liability (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]
Claim liability at end of period	$ 2,100,000	$ 2,400,000
Project Finance Credit [Member]
Components of (decrease)/increase in discount [Abstract]
Net Par Outstanding		69,000,000
Financial Guaranty Segment
Claim liability at beginning of period	64,291,000	60,550,000
(Decrease)/increase in gross claim liability	8,390,000	187,111,000
Decrease/(increase) in gross potential recoveries	(3,946,000)	(301,598,000)
Decrease/(increase) in discount	(3,555,000)	146,579,000
(Increase)/decrease in unearned premiums	(797,000)	(704,000)
Incurred losses and LAE	92,000	31,388,000
Paid Losses and LAE Current Year	1,000	0
Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years	(41,915,000)	(8,889,000)
Paid losses and LAE	(41,914,000)	(8,889,000)
Claim liability at end of period	22,469,000	83,049,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims Current Year	104,000	0
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims, Prior Years	(12,000)	31,388,000
Total incurred	92,000	31,388,000
Components of (decrease)/increase in discount [Abstract]
Decrease/(increase) in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period	(128,000)	150,611,000
Decrease/(increase) in discount related to existing claim liabilites	(3,427,000)	(4,032,000)
Total decrease/(increase) in discount	$ (3,555,000)	$ 146,579,000