CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 243,301	$ 313,624
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	295,710	262,186
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	52,201	59,857
Deferred income taxes	(28,635)	(10,573)
Impairment of notes receivable and related charges	25,597
Other, net	6,708	17,532
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of net assets acquired:
Accounts receivable	113,134	(22,634)
Inventories	(85,855)	(162,076)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(59,259)	(201,715)
Other assets	(1,497)	(3,302)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	239,209	(52,439)
Income taxes payable	9,067	(8,933)
Net cash provided by operating activities	809,681	191,527
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(452,993)	(291,792)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	11,274	12,555
Cash paid for business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(9,662)	(125,098)
Cost of receivables acquired, net of cash collections		517
Investments in non-marketable equity securities	(2,942)
Net cash used in investing activities	(454,323)	(403,818)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	3,169,401	7,033,854
Payments toward debt agreements	(3,184,810)	(6,783,726)
Payments to acquire treasury stock	(129,262)	(70,991)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(51,743)	(48,716)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest		(333)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	10,899	18,576
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	(20,268)	(31,181)
Debt issuance costs		(5,014)
Excess tax benefit related to stock awards	330	750
Capital contribution to noncontrolling interest	316
Cash paid to purchase noncontrolling interest		(20,501)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(205,137)	92,718
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15,751)	(26,909)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	134,470	(146,482)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,217,256	888,611
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 1,351,726	$ 742,129