Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009	Aug. 31, 2008
Income tax expense	$ 98,229,000	$ 76,501,000	$ 160,898,000
Effective rate of income tax	20.40%	30.90%	(16.00%)
U.S. federal corporate tax rate	35.00%
Material tax incentives expiration date	2020
Income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	59,000,000	48,300,000	25,700,000
Per share income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 0.28	$ 0.23	$ 0.12
Income tax expense related to withholding taxes on repatriation of subsidiaries	3,300,000
Withholding taxes on repatriation of subsidiaries	33,000,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	1,300,000,000
Net current deferred tax assets	10,600,000	18,100,000
Net non-current deferred tax assets	59,200,000	53,600,000
Net change in the total valuation allowance	93,800,000	(58,500,000)
Operating loss carryforwards expiration dates	2031
U.S. foreign tax credits, amount remaining	6,300,000
Unrecognized tax benefits	84,942,000	78,140,000	79,576,000	75,178,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate, if recognized	68,900,000	71,500,000
Unrecognized tax benefits for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts could significantly change during the next 12 months	9,400,000	4,600,000
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits included in income tax provision	23,700,000	18,500,000
Unrecognized interest and penalties expenses	5,200,000	900,000	(1,600,000)
Additional income tax payment potential	69,300,000
State And Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Net operating loss carry forwards	28,700,000
Tax credit carryforward	700,000
Expiration date of tax credit carry forward	2017
Domestic Country [Member]
Net operating loss carry forwards	332,400,000
Foreign Country [Member]
Net operating loss carry forwards	639,900,000
Tax credit carryforward	10,400,000
Foreign Tax Credits Expiring Through 2021 [Member]
Tax credit carryforward	4,100,000
Expiration date of tax credit carry forward	2021
Foreign Investment Tax Credit Expiring In 2017 [Member]
Foreign investment tax credit	10,700,000
Expiration date of tax credit carry forward	2017
Possible Cash Payments [Member]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing, tax holidays, and certain inclusions in taxable income	5,000,000	500,000
Audits Settlement Not Involving Cash Payments [Member]
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing, tax holidays, and certain inclusions in taxable income	$ 4,400,000	$ 4,100,000