Note 9 -Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit (Detail)
0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 15 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Oct. 16, 2006
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2010
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
BHD
Aug. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2010
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2007
JPY (¥)
Oct. 13, 2006
USD ($)
Oct. 13, 2006
JPY (¥)
Nov. 30, 2011
Aggregate Limit Over Life of Facility [Member]
Nov. 30, 2011
Maximum [Member]
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
Performance Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Oct. 16, 2006
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
JPY (¥)
Nov. 30, 2011
Unsecured Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Aug. 31, 2011
Unsecured Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 15, 2011
Available for Financial Letters of Credit and/or Borrowings [Member]
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
Financial Letters of Credit [Member]
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2011
Minimum [Member]
USD ($)
Debt Instrument, Face Amount (in Yen)               ¥ 128,980,000,000 $ 1,100,000,000 ¥ 128,980,000,000                  
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt 1,000,000,000 1,000,000,000                                  
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price 1,100,000,000               1,100,000,000                    
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate, Translation   77.9   77.9   76.8                          
Notional Amount of Cash Flow Hedge Instruments (in Yen)                           78,000,000,000          
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate   3.00%   3.00%                              
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage   2.398%   2.398%                              
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net   19,300,000   19,300,000   27,100,000                          
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity   8,000,000   8,000,000 3,000,000             1,450,000,000         1,250,000,000    
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount   431,800,000   431,800,000   456,100,000             181,200,000   1,700,000 1,900,000      
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding                                   135,100,000  
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity   263,700,000   263,700,000                             1,114,900,000
Line of Credit Facility, Dividend Restrictions   $500.0                 $500.0                
Payments for Fees   2,000,000 2,500,000                                
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount   900,000 900,000                                
Amortization of Financing Costs   600,000   1,200,000                              
Deferred Finance Costs, Net   11,200,000   11,200,000     11,800,000                        
Line of Credit Facility, Capacity Available for Specific Purpose Other than for Trade Purchases (in Dinars)         1,500,000                            
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value (in Dinars)         200,000                            
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End   1.28%   1.28%