SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW & OTHER DATA (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Supplemental Cash Flow & Other Data [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 53,945	$ 54,222	$ 161,588	$ 161,900
Interest expense	(44,059)	(36,472)	(129,570)	(109,642)
Interest income	651	272	1,652	1,120
Interest expense, net	(43,408)	(36,200)	(127,918)	(108,522)
Interest paid	55,718	62,131	128,301	118,546
Income taxes paid	24,934	127,298	132,655	324,416
Assets acquired under capital lease obligations	2,927	12,018	5,624	16,230
Fair value of assets acquired	4,729		1,560,173
Fair value of liabilities assumed			148,192
Fair value of net assets acquired	4,729		1,411,981
Remaining Merger consideration to be paid			(1,151)
Merger consideration paid	157,409
Cash paid for business acquisitions	162,138		1,410,830
Less: Cash acquired			112,312
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$ 162,138		$ 1,298,518	$ 0