Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 212,026	$ 163,129
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	173,734	151,874
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	39,734	39,801
Settlement of receivables and related charges		12,673
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries		23,944
Other, net	(7,661)	(208)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	(1,024)	178,311
Inventories	(119,816)	(104,299)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(31,761)	(14,590)
Other assets	(1,719)	(10,723)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(259,021)	(84,673)
Income taxes payable	736	12,366
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,228	367,605
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(128,462)	3,985
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(180,506)	(207,347)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	9,666	9,817
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments		5,800
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections	497	(33,247)
Net cash used in investing activities	(298,805)	(220,992)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments toward debt agreements	(4,425,749)	(4,128,667)
Borrowings under debt agreements	4,633,328	4,178,028
Dividends paid to stockholders	(32,148)	(30,214)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	14,403	14,794
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(39,964)
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(31,056)	(9,722)
Debt issuance costs		(14,547)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	750	72
Net cash provided by financing activities	119,564	9,744
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,248)	1,631
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(181,261)	157,988
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	888,611	744,329
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 707,350	$ 902,317