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LOSS (GAIN) ON SALE OF ASSETS AND ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2011 Digital Research in Electronics, Acoustics and Music SAS (DREAM) USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2011 Digital Research in Electronics, Acoustics and Music SAS (DREAM) EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2010 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France USD ($)
Disposal disclosures
Sales price							€ 1,700
Period of commitments to purchase wafers from LFoundry (in years)								4 Y
Loss (gain) on disposal
Net assets transferred								61,646		61,646
Fair Value of Manufacturing Services Agreement								92,417		92,417
Currency translation adjustment										(97,367)
Severance cost liability										27,840
Transition services										4,746
Selling costs										3,173
Other related costs										1,597
Loss (gain) on sale of assets				(33,043)		(1,882)				94,052
Difference between the purchase commitment contract prices and market prices over the term of the agreement										103,660
Discount rate used to determine present value of liability (as a percent)								7.00%		7.00%
Present value discount of liability										11,243
Performance-based bonuses										497
Decrease of liability under Manufacturing Services Agreement									7,854		15,708
Interest expense	1,913	1,109	3,614	2,357					1,250		2,500
Asset Impairment Charges
Long-term assets held for sale					83,260
Asset impairment charges		$ 11,922