Federal air marshals are being encouraged to use "creative writing" when they file surveillance reports, landing law-abiding citizens on terror watch lists.

"Innocent passengers are being entered into an international intelligence database as suspicious persons, acting in a suspicious manner on an aircraft ... and they did nothing wrong," said one federal air marshal."

If the marshals don't file at least one Surveillance Detection Report, they're passed over on raises, bonuses and other perks.

Individuals placed on an SDR can wind up in lists identifying them as potential terrorists threats.

Marshall, we think we spotted suspicious activity on the plane, someone was wasting a dangerous amount of tax dollars.

But here's the thing, if everyone knows this watch list is filled with garbage, is anyone going to bother ever using it?

[7news via Boing Boing]

(Video after the link kinda worth a watch because they have their anonymous informant wearing a ski mask AND distorting his voice. Why not just throw on a Count Chocula face mask for good measure?)