NOTES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM DEBT AND AVAILABLE CREDIT FACILITIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		2 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility Agreement [Member]	Feb. 28, 2011 Long-term Debt [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Long-term Debt [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Redemption of Notes [Member]	Mar. 22, 2011 Redemption of Notes [Member]	Mar. 08, 2012 Redemption of Notes [Member]
Notes Payable Long Term Debt and Available Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	$ 224,000,000	$ 20,000,000			$ 225,000,000
Repayments of Notes Payable				800,000,000
Outstanding debt	20,000,000,000
Debt instrument covenant, ratio of indebtedness to net capital, maximum	0.65
Amount of debt, if exceeded, causes company to comply with capitalization ratios			500,000,000
Amount at which a failure to pay results in default	50,000,000
Permitted amount of acceleration of principal which causes default	200,000,000
Amount of judgment which causes default	200,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount						$ 37,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,250,000,000