Basis Of Presentation (Additional Cash Flow Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Non-cash operating items:
Equity in net income of affiliates	$ 2,762	$ (41,586)	$ 11,353	$ (6,869)	$ (113,405)	[1]	$ 77,262	[1]	$ (23,940)	[1]	$ (46,246)	[1]	$ (34,340)	$ (106,329)	$ (85,625)
Deferred taxes													22,003	40,468	(328,226)
Depreciation and amortization													62	115	178
Stock based compensation													1,072	1,060	1,427
Gain on disposition of net assets														(6,913)
Amortization of prior service credits and net actuarial gain													(8,224)	250	68
Unrealized gain on non-qualified pension plan assets													(108)	(157)	(295)
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations and other net assets													(202)
Loss (gain) on foreign currency transactions and contracts													(1,316)	71
Net non-cash operating items - continuing operations													(21,053)	(71,435)	(412,473)
Non-cash operating items - discontinued operations													(346,377)	69,209	32,966
Non-cash investing activities:
Note received from land sale	101,000				417,496								101,000	417,496
Capital expenditures incurred not yet paid - discontinued operations														7,766	2,782
Non-cash financing activities:
Contributions by noncontrolling interest															134
Repurchase of voting common stock not yet paid														472
Capitalized lease obligation-discontinued operations														2,243
Supplemental information:
Interest paid-continuing operations													106	145	183
Interest paid - discontinued operations													1,841	1,504	1,808
Tax payments (refunds), net													$ 122	$ 5,937	$ 573

[1] As a result of the Sale of SS/L on November 2, 2012, our 2011 selected quarterly financial information has been restated to reflect SS/L as a discontinued operation.