Texans to watch the Texas-Mexico border on the internet soon

Houston Chronicle:

Irked by what he called federal "inaction" on border security, Gov. Rick Perry unveiled state plans to install hundreds of video surveillance cameras along the Rio Grande to allow anyone with Internet access to witness and report suspicious activity as it occurs.

"I look at this as no different than the neighborhood watches that we've had in our communities for years and years," the governor said Thursday.

In making the announcement, Perry sought to distance himself from President Bush on the immigration controversy and align himself instead with delegates to the Texas Republican Convention, which begins today amid anger about the president's handling of the issue.

"Enforcing the border is the federal government's responsibility, but Texas will not wait for them to act," Perry said. "A stronger border is what the American people want. And it's what our security demands. And that is what Texas is going to deliver."

Perry said he'll tap $5 million from his office's funds to establish the "Virtual Border Watch Program" throughout the state's 1,200-mile frontage on the Rio Grande.

"With the voluntary participation of private landowners, the state will begin posting hundreds of surveillance cameras along the criminal hotspots and common routes used to enter this country," Perry said. No timetable was given.

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There is much more. This is not a bad idea. It is an effective way to increase the force to space ration by leveraging video into a force multiplier.