Note 10: Shareowners' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Equity, beginning of period	$ 23,739,000,000	$ 20,915,000,000	$ 22,332,000,000	$ 20,999,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, beginning of period	348,000,000	311,000,000	317,000,000	389,000,000
Net income	1,421,000,000	1,299,000,000	3,952,000,000	3,458,000,000
Foreign currency translation, net	(757,000,000)	853,000,000	(50,000,000)	8,000,000
Increases (decreases) in unrealized gains from available-for-sale securities, net	(111,000,000)	25,000,000	(40,000,000)	33,000,000
Cash flow hedging gains (losses)	(106,000,000)	25,000,000	(87,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Change in pension and post-retirement benefit plans, net	79,000,000	23,000,000	193,000,000	104,000,000
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(895,000,000)	926,000,000	16,000,000	127,000,000
Total comprehensive income for the period	526,000,000	2,225,000,000	3,968,000,000	3,585,000,000
Common Stock issued under employee plans	119,000,000	113,000,000	566,000,000	439,000,000
Common Stock repurchased	(675,000,000)	(490,000,000)	(2,175,000,000)	(1,650,000,000)
Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value	450,000,000	0	450,000,000	250,000,000
Dividends on Common Stock	(411,000,000)	(370,000,000)	(1,192,000,000)	(1,114,000,000)
Dividends on ESOP Common Stock	(16,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(47,000,000)
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	(82,000,000)	(86,000,000)	(248,000,000)	(233,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(68,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(68,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	2,000,000	9,000,000	13,000,000	36,000,000
Acquired noncontrolling interest	8,000,000	0	13,000,000	29,000,000
Disposition noncontrolling interest	(1,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings	(4,000,000)	(6,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss)	4,000,000	(20,000,000)	(2,000,000)	5,000,000
Change in redemption value of put options	(3,000,000)	5,000,000	(6,000,000)	8,000,000
Equity, end of period	23,588,000,000	22,253,000,000	23,588,000,000	22,253,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, end of period	327,000,000	318,000,000	327,000,000	318,000,000
Net income attributable to common shareowners	1,324,000,000	1,198,000,000	3,654,000,000	3,174,000,000
Transfer to noncontrolling interest: Increase in common stock for sale of subsidiary shares	0	0	3,000,000	0
Transfers to noncontrolling interests - Decrease in common stock for purchase of subsidiary shares	(51,000,000)	0	(51,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Change from net income attributable to common shareowners and transfers to noncontrolling interest	1,273,000,000	1,198,000,000	3,606,000,000	3,172,000,000
Shareowners' Equity [Member]
Equity, beginning of period	22,723,000,000	19,933,000,000	21,385,000,000	20,066,000,000
Net income	1,324,000,000	1,198,000,000	3,654,000,000	3,174,000,000
Foreign currency translation, net	(732,000,000)	808,000,000	(63,000,000)	11,000,000
Increases (decreases) in unrealized gains from available-for-sale securities, net	(111,000,000)	25,000,000	(40,000,000)	33,000,000
Cash flow hedging gains (losses)	(106,000,000)	25,000,000	(87,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Change in pension and post-retirement benefit plans, net	79,000,000	23,000,000	193,000,000	104,000,000
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(870,000,000)	881,000,000	3,000,000	130,000,000
Total comprehensive income for the period	454,000,000	2,079,000,000	3,657,000,000	3,304,000,000
Common Stock issued under employee plans	119,000,000	113,000,000	566,000,000	439,000,000
Common Stock repurchased	(675,000,000)	(490,000,000)	(2,175,000,000)	(1,650,000,000)
Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value	450,000,000	0	450,000,000	250,000,000
Dividends on Common Stock	(411,000,000)	(370,000,000)	(1,192,000,000)	(1,114,000,000)
Dividends on ESOP Common Stock	(16,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(47,000,000)	(47,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(51,000,000)	0	(51,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	0	0	3,000,000	0
Change in redemption value of put options	(3,000,000)	5,000,000	(6,000,000)	8,000,000
Equity, end of period	22,590,000,000	21,254,000,000	22,590,000,000	21,254,000,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity, beginning of period	1,016,000,000	982,000,000	947,000,000	933,000,000
Net income	97,000,000	101,000,000	298,000,000	284,000,000
Foreign currency translation, net	(25,000,000)	45,000,000	13,000,000	(3,000,000)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(25,000,000)	45,000,000	13,000,000	(3,000,000)
Total comprehensive income for the period	72,000,000	146,000,000	311,000,000	281,000,000
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	(82,000,000)	(86,000,000)	(248,000,000)	(233,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(17,000,000)	(8,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(12,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	2,000,000	9,000,000	10,000,000	36,000,000
Acquired noncontrolling interest	8,000,000	0	13,000,000	29,000,000
Disposition noncontrolling interest	(1,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings	(4,000,000)	(6,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss)	4,000,000	(20,000,000)	(2,000,000)	5,000,000
Equity, end of period	998,000,000	999,000,000	998,000,000	999,000,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Net income	4,000,000	6,000,000	15,000,000	22,000,000
Foreign currency translation, net	(4,000,000)	20,000,000	2,000,000	(5,000,000)
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(3,000,000)	(11,000,000)	(16,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(2,000,000)	0	(2,000,000)	(65,000,000)
Change in redemption value of put options	3,000,000	(5,000,000)	6,000,000	(8,000,000)
Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest	$ (22,000,000)	$ (11,000,000)	$ 0	$ 1,000,000