FAIR VALUE FAIR VALUE (Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Required to Be Measured at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	$ 1,289,047		$ 1,284,042
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	408,546	[1]	411,518
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	408,546		411,518	[1]
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	438,200	[1]	443,646	[1]
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	518,305	[1]	522,930
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	518,305		522,930	[1]
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	567,560	[1]	570,429	[1]
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	330,000	[1]	330,000
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	330,000		330,000	[1]
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	$ 325,050	[1]	$ 298,650	[1]

[1] (1) The fair value of the notes is determined based on indicated market values.