Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 382,958	$ 170,766	$ (1,166,031)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	319,179	283,284	291,997
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	76,230	104,609	44,026
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries	23,944	18,671
Settlement of receivables and related charges	12,673
Other, net	9,910	9,488	18,902
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			10,522
Deferred income taxes	2,266	2,331	102,375
Restructuring and impairment charges	628	8,217	51,894
Goodwill impairment charges			1,022,821
Change in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Trade accounts receivable	48,232	(247,133)	169,741
Inventories	(158,545)	(969,348)	283,816
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(212,265)	(143,639)	40,950
Other assets	3,205	448	(7,604)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	305,814	1,172,770	(292,671)
Income taxes payable	13,780	16,946	(13,429)
Net cash provided by operating activities	828,009	427,410	557,309
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(458,989)	(398,425)	(292,238)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	23,483	10,280	10,239
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments	5,800
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	3,985		(4,176)
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections	(557)
Notes receivable from sale		(24,972)
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash		(27,140)
Net cash used in investing activities	(426,278)	(440,257)	(286,175)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments toward debt agreements	(7,586,754)	(5,423,914)	(4,981,081)
Borrowings under debt agreements	7,572,157	5,374,479	4,855,474
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(200,226)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(60,411)	(59,869)	(59,583)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	31,644	10,744	7,420
Debt issuance costs	(14,549)		(7,067)
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(9,763)	(5,505)	(855)
Excess tax benefit (shortfall) of options exercised	180	132	(921)
Financing related costs			(9,300)
Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares of certain subsidiaries		586
Bank overdraft of subsidiary		3,067
Net cash used in financing activities	(267,722)	(100,280)	(195,913)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	10,273	(18,816)	28,128
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	144,282	(131,943)	103,349
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	744,329	876,272	772,923
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	888,611	744,329	876,272
Supplemental disclosure information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	84,956	73,423	81,641
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	$ 81,228	$ 57,656	$ 73,302