Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (1,138)	$ (185)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used by operating activities:
Amortization of bond (premiums) discounts, net	(11)	(11)
Decrease in accrued investment income	4	4
Decrease in premiums receivable	170	165
Decrease in deferred acquisition costs	37	41
Decrease in unearned premium revenue	(361)	(354)
Decrease in prepaid reinsurance premiums	4	69
Decrease in reinsurance premiums payable	(2)	(41)
Decrease in loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	(265)	(164)
Increase in reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses	(5)	(12)
Increase in insurance loss recoverable	(126)	(249)
Increase (decrease) in payable to reinsurers on recoveries	4	(29)
Depreciation	4	4
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable	(8)	5
Decrease in accounts receivable	3	9
Decrease in accrued expenses	(11)	(11)
Decrease in deferred fee revenue	(1)	(1)
Amortization of medium-term notes (premiums) discounts, net	(6)	4
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	33	43
Realized losses and other settlements on insured derivatives	215
Unrealized losses on insured derivatives	1,307	674
Net losses (gains) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	212	(366)
Other net realized (gains) losses	(8)	55
Increase in current income taxes	60	530
Deferred income tax benefit	(777)	(208)
Gains on extinguishment of debt	(26)	(22)
Share-based compensation	6	1
Other operating	5	(119)
Total adjustments to net income (loss)	457	17
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(681)	(168)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of fixed-maturity securities	(3,551)	(3,921)
Sale and redemption of fixed-maturity securities	4,939	5,078
Decrease in loans receivable	157	159
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments		(256)
Redemptions of held-to-maturity investments	105	365
Sale of short-term investments, net	605	351
Sale of other investments, net	33	13
(Deconsolidation) consolidation of variable interest entities, net	(1)	480
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements	(44)	49
Capital expenditures	(2)	(2)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	2,241	2,316
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of investment agreements	58	36
Payments for drawdowns of investment agreements	(428)	(336)
Issuance of medium-term notes	13	15
Principal paydown of medium-term notes	(107)	(189)
Principal paydown of variable interest entity notes	(695)	(890)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(84)	(15)
Dividends paid		(1)
Repayments for retirement of debt	(70)	(220)
Purchase of treasury stock	(25)	(20)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest and redemption of subsidiary preferred stock, net	10	(3)
Restricted stock awards settlements	(1)	3
Collateral from swap counterparty		164
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,329)	(1,456)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	231	692
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,130	803
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	1,361	1,495
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Income taxes refunded	(56)	(426)
Interest paid:
Investment agreements	36	48
Medium-term notes	32	35
Variable interest entity notes	162	188
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1	1
Other borrowings and deposits	2	2
Corporate debt	31	34
Surplus notes	67	67
Non cash items:
Share-based compensation	$ 6	$ 1