Business Segments (Summary Of Segments Within Wind-Down Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 284	[1]	$ 265	[1]	$ 802	[1]	$ 940	[1]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	13		12		(114)		(36)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(11)		0		(44)		(43)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt			10		26		28
Other net realized gains (losses)	1		(1)		6		18
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	110		15		64		386
Total revenues	1,120		(191)		(390)		30
Operating expenses	88		84		277		251
Interest expense	75		81		225		246
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	22		20		69		58
Total expenses	375		165		775		677
Income (loss) before income taxes	745		(356)		(1,165)		(647)
Identifiable assets	29,370		33,272		29,370		33,272		32,279
Asset / Liability Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	23	[2]	24	[2]	70	[2]	84	[2]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	11		(117)		(206)		(138)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(1)		0		(30)		(39)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt			10		24		28
Other net realized gains (losses)					4		0
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	(2)		15		10		36
Inter-segment revenues	(3)	[3]	(4)	[3]	(9)	[3]	(11)	[3]
Total revenues	28		(72)		(137)		(40)
Operating expenses			1		2		3
Interest expense	27		31		82		95
Inter-segment expenses	9	[3]	14	[3]	25	[3]	46	[3]
Total expenses	36		46		109		144
Income (loss) before income taxes	(8)		(118)		(246)		(184)
Identifiable assets	3,982		5,539		3,982		5,539
Conduits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(2)	[2]	1	[2]			3	[2]
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	7		19		15		40
Inter-segment revenues	(1)	[3]	(1)	[3]	(3)	[3]	(3)	[3]
Total revenues	4		19		12		40
Operating expenses	2		1				1
Interest expense	1
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	5		5		15		12
Inter-segment expenses	(3)	[3]	(1)	[3]	(1)	[3]	2	[3]
Total expenses	5		5		14		15
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1)		14		(2)		25
Identifiable assets	1,574		1,683		1,574		1,683
Wind-Down Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inter-segment revenues			0	[3]			(1)	[3]
Total revenues			0				(1)
Inter-segment expenses			0	[3]			(1)	[3]
Total expenses			0				(1)
Identifiable assets			(214)				(214)
Wind-Down Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	21	[1],[2]	25	[1],[2]	70	[1],[2]	87	[1],[2]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	11		(117)		(206)		(138)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	(1)		0		(30)		(39)
Net gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt			10		24		28
Other net realized gains (losses)					4		0
Revenues of consolidated VIEs	5		34		25		76
Inter-segment revenues	(4)	[3],[4]	(5)	[3],[4]	(12)	[3],[4]	(15)	[3],[4]
Total revenues	32		(53)		(125)		(1)
Operating expenses	2		2		2		4
Interest expense	28		31		82		95
Expenses of consolidated VIEs	5		5		15		12
Inter-segment expenses	6	[3],[4]	13	[3],[4]	24	[3],[4]	47	[3],[4]
Total expenses	41		51		123		158
Income (loss) before income taxes	(9)		(104)		(248)		(159)
Identifiable assets	$ 5,556		$ 7,008		$ 5,556		$ 7,008

[1] Represents the sum of third-party financial guarantee net premiums earned, net investment income, insurance-related fees and reimbursements, investment management fees and other fees.

[2]

[3] Represents intercompany asset management fees and expenses plus intercompany interest income and expense.

[4] Represents intercompany premium income and expense, intercompany asset management fees and expenses, and intercompany interest income and expense pertaining to intercompany receivables and payables.