Concentration Of Risk And Segment Data (Operating Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Net revenue	$ 16,518,827	$ 13,409,411	$ 11,684,538
Total segment income	715,194	490,930	246,835
Stock-based compensation expense	(76,230)	(104,609)	(44,026)
Amortization of intangibles	(22,051)	(25,934)	(31,039)
Restructuring and impairment charges	(628)	(8,217)	(51,894)
Goodwill impairment charges			(1,022,821)
Settlement of receivables and related charges	(13,607)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries	(23,944)	(24,604)
Other expense	(2,986)	(4,087)	(20,111)
Interest income	3,132	2,956	7,426
Interest expense	(97,693)	(79,168)	(82,247)
Distressed customer charges			(7,256)
Income (loss) before income tax	481,187	247,267	(1,005,133)
Total assets	7,057,940	6,367,747
DMS [Member]
Net revenue	6,018,332	4,223,955	3,358,130
Total segment income	389,188	248,967	129,066
Total assets	2,417,256	2,194,998
E&I [Member]
Net revenue	5,180,011	4,407,013	4,006,672
Total segment income	199,731	186,335	94,936
Total assets	1,194,774	1,033,910
HVS [Member]
Net revenue	5,320,484	4,778,443	4,319,736
Total segment income	126,275	55,628	22,833
Total assets	1,232,378	1,469,476
Other Non-Allocated Assets [Member]
Total assets	$ 2,213,532	$ 1,669,363