Income Tax (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Income Tax [Abstract]
Tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate at 35%	$ (38,534)	$ (71,612)	$ 677
State and local taxes	7,351	(12,530)	13,440
Section 199 manufacturing deduction	(1,175)		(3,313)
Foreign rate differential	12,876	9,044	22,857
Change in valuation allowance	29,553	41,775	5,015
Liability for non-US earnings	8,848		(34,777)
Other	409	(4,795)	(3,152)
Taxes (benefit) on continuing operations	$ 19,328	$ (38,118)	$ 747
Effective tax rate from continuing operations	(17.60%)	18.60%	38.60%

Effective income tax rate reconciliation liability for non us earnings.

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A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

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The sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to pretax Income or Loss from continuing operations; income tax expense or benefit may include interest and penalties on tax uncertainties based on the entity's accounting policy.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the period.

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The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to the deduction for qualified production activities received under enacted tax laws.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to total foreign income tax expense or benefit. The foreign income tax expense or benefit difference represents the income tax expense or benefit at applicable domestic statutory income tax rates applied to foreign earnings or loss for the period versus the foreign income tax expense or benefit calculated by applying the appropriate foreign tax rates.

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The amount of income tax expense or benefit for the period computed by applying the domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations.

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The portion of the difference, between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement for the year/accounting period and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations, that is attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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