Note 11: Shareowners' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Equity, beginning of period	$ 23,725,000,000	$ 23,739,000,000	$ 22,820,000,000	$ 22,332,000,000
Net income	1,511,000,000	1,421,000,000	3,340,000,000	3,952,000,000
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareowners	1,035,000,000	(895,000,000)	831,000,000	16,000,000
Total comprehensive income for the period	2,546,000,000	526,000,000	4,171,000,000	3,968,000,000
Common Stock issued under employee plans	275,000,000	119,000,000	608,000,000	566,000,000
Treasury Stock issued under employee plans	141,000,000	0	141,000,000	0
Common Stock repurchased	0	(675,000,000)	0	(2,175,000,000)
Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value	0	450,000,000	0	450,000,000
Quarterly Contract Adjustment Payments To Equity Units Holders	0	0	(216,000,000)	0
Dividends on Common Stock	(463,000,000)	(411,000,000)	(1,288,000,000)	(1,192,000,000)
Dividends on ESOP Common Stock	(18,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(47,000,000)
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	(162,000,000)	(82,000,000)	(292,000,000)	(248,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(12,000,000)	(68,000,000)	(23,000,000)	(68,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	17,000,000	2,000,000	52,000,000	13,000,000
Acquired noncontrolling interest	39,000,000	8,000,000	94,000,000	13,000,000
Disposition noncontrolling interest	0	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings	(11,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(22,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,000,000)	4,000,000	1,000,000	(2,000,000)
Change in redemption value of put options	0	(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest reclassified	21,000,000	0	100,000,000	0
Equity, end of period	26,091,000,000	23,588,000,000	26,091,000,000	23,588,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, beginning of period	238,000,000	348,000,000	358,000,000	317,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, end of period	233,000,000	327,000,000	233,000,000	327,000,000
Net income attributable to common shareowners	1,415,000,000	1,324,000,000	3,073,000,000	3,654,000,000
Transfer to noncontrolling interest: Increase in common stock for sale of subsidiary shares	0	0	0	3,000,000
Transfers to noncontrolling interests - Decrease in common stock for purchase of subsidiary shares	(11,000,000)	(51,000,000)	(19,000,000)	(51,000,000)
Change from net income attributable to common shareowners and transfers to noncontrolling interest	1,404,000,000	1,273,000,000	3,054,000,000	3,606,000,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	586,000,000		586,000,000				206,000,000
Foreign Currency Translation Change in Period	690,000,000		690,000,000		(628,000,000)	318,000,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(5,388,000,000)		(5,388,000,000)				(5,810,000,000)
Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans Change in Period	187,000,000		187,000,000		136,000,000	99,000,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax	135,000,000		135,000,000				164,000,000
Unrealize Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities Change in Period	2,000,000		2,000,000		(42,000,000)	11,000,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	4,000,000		4,000,000				(50,000,000)
Unrealized Hedging Gains Change in Period	133,000,000		133,000,000		(140,000,000)	61,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,663,000,000)		(4,663,000,000)				(5,490,000,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Change in Period	1,012,000,000		1,012,000,000		(674,000,000)	489,000,000
Shareowners' Equity [Member]
Equity, beginning of period	22,604,000,000	22,723,000,000	21,880,000,000	21,385,000,000
Net income	1,415,000,000	1,324,000,000	3,073,000,000	3,654,000,000
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareowners	1,012,000,000	(870,000,000)	827,000,000	3,000,000
Total comprehensive income for the period	2,427,000,000	454,000,000	3,900,000,000	3,657,000,000
Common Stock issued under employee plans	275,000,000	119,000,000	608,000,000	566,000,000
Treasury Stock issued under employee plans	141,000,000	0	141,000,000	0
Common Stock repurchased	0	(675,000,000)	0	(2,175,000,000)
Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value	0	450,000,000	0	450,000,000
Quarterly Contract Adjustment Payments To Equity Units Holders	0	0	(216,000,000)	0
Dividends on Common Stock	(463,000,000)	(411,000,000)	(1,288,000,000)	(1,192,000,000)
Dividends on ESOP Common Stock	(18,000,000)	(16,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(47,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(11,000,000)	(51,000,000)	(19,000,000)	(51,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	3,000,000
Change in redemption value of put options	0	(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Equity, end of period	24,955,000,000	22,590,000,000	24,955,000,000	22,590,000,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity, beginning of period	1,121,000,000	1,016,000,000	940,000,000	947,000,000
Net income	96,000,000	97,000,000	267,000,000	298,000,000
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareowners	23,000,000	(25,000,000)	4,000,000	13,000,000
Total comprehensive income for the period	119,000,000	72,000,000	271,000,000	311,000,000
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	(162,000,000)	(82,000,000)	(292,000,000)	(248,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(1,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest	17,000,000	2,000,000	52,000,000	10,000,000
Acquired noncontrolling interest	39,000,000	8,000,000	94,000,000	13,000,000
Disposition noncontrolling interest	0	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings	(11,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(22,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,000,000)	4,000,000	1,000,000	(2,000,000)
Amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest reclassified	21,000,000	0	100,000,000	0
Equity, end of period	1,136,000,000	998,000,000	1,136,000,000	998,000,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Net income	11,000,000	4,000,000	22,000,000	15,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	7,000,000	(4,000,000)	(1,000,000)	2,000,000
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,000,000)	0	(13,000,000)	(11,000,000)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	0	(2,000,000)	(34,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Change in redemption value of put options	0	3,000,000	1,000,000	6,000,000
Amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest reclassified	(21,000,000)	0	(100,000,000)	0
Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest	$ 0	$ (22,000,000)	$ 0	$ 0