CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 895,243	$ 700,104	$ 356,438
Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments:	(60,522)	(33,636)	76,442
Foreign currency translation losses (gains) during period	(71,612)	(34,667)	76,969
Reclassification of foreign currency translation losses (gains) to earnings upon sale of subsidiaries	11,090	1,031	(527)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Actuarial losses arising during period	(46,284)	(7,342)	(14,069)
Prior service (cost) credit arising during period	(1,067)	(1,848)	1,081
Amortization of actuarial losses included in net periodic pension cost	5,646	2,731	3,605
Amortization of prior service costs included in net periodic pension cost	5,390	5,180	5,876
Total pension and other postretirement plans, net of tax	(36,315)	(1,279)	(3,507)
Cash flow hedges:
Unrealized net (losses) gains arising during period	(948)	623	44
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	(124)	(389)	1,047
Total cash flow hedges	(1,072)	234	1,091
Other	238	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	(97,671)	(34,681)	74,026
Comprehensive earnings	$ 797,572	$ 665,423	$ 430,464