Note 9 - 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, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Trade Credit Reinsurance and Surety Insurance [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Project Finance Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment	Jun. 30, 2012 Financial Guaranty Segment	Jun. 30, 2013 Financial Guaranty Segment	Jun. 30, 2012 Financial Guaranty Segment
Claim liability at beginning of period	$ 2,716,490,000	$ 3,149,936,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,300,000		$ 22,469,000	$ 83,049,000	$ 64,291,000	$ 60,550,000
(Decrease)/increase in gross claim liability						(36,381,000)	(25,413,000)	(27,991,000)	161,698,000
Decrease/(increase) in gross potential recoveries						30,389,000	109,883,000	26,443,000	(191,715,000)
Decrease/(increase) in discount						9,688,000	(80,434,000)	6,133,000	66,145,000
Decrease/(increase) in unearned premiums						84,000	(1,204,000)	(713,000)	(1,908,000)
Incurred losses and LAE						3,780,000	2,832,000	3,872,000	34,220,000
Paid Losses and LAE Current Year						34,000	334,000	33,000	334,000
Paid Losses and LAE Prior Years						2,604,000	(7,098,000)	44,519,000	1,791,000
Paid losses and LAE						2,638,000	(6,764,000)	44,552,000	2,125,000
Claim liability at end of period	2,716,490,000	3,149,936,000	2,000,000	2,300,000		23,611,000	92,645,000	23,611,000	92,645,000
Components of incurred losses and LAE [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims Current Year						279,000	51,000	383,000	51,000
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred Claims, Prior Years						3,501,000	2,781,000	3,489,000	34,169,000
Total incurred						3,780,000	2,832,000	3,872,000	34,220,000
Components of (decrease)/increase in discount [Abstract]
(Increase)/decrease in discount related to claim liabilities established in current period						(37,000)	(84,929,000)	(165,000)	65,682,000
Decrease in discount related to existing claim liabilites						9,725,000	4,495,000	6,298,000	463,000
Total decrease/(increase) in discount						9,688,000	(80,434,000)	6,133,000	66,145,000
Net Par Outstanding					$ 69,000,000