Signs that an administration isn't serious or coherent in it's policy objectives

Shut down programs that the subject matter experts say are necessary and working while maintaining programs that aren't.

Last week, in some of his first acts as President, Barack Obama issued an executive order to halt the use of enhanced / harsh interrogation methods by the CIA. At the time the NY Times reported:

The executive order on interrogations is certain to be received with some skepticism at the C.I.A., which for years has maintained that the military’s interrogation rules are insufficient to get information from senior Qaeda figures like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The Bush administration asserted that the harsh interrogation methods were instrumental in gaining valuable intelligence on Qaeda operations.

and General Hayden, the Director of Central Intelligence said:

Speaking with reporters Thursday, outgoing CIA Director Michael Hayden said harsh interrogation tactics have been needed to get information from the most hardened terror suspects. He and some other U.S. intelligence officials oppose limiting the CIA to the Army manual, which was written specifically for military interrogations and may not be effective on the most dangerous detainees.

"It is an honest discussion to talk about what techniques we should use, but to assume automatically that the Army Field Manual would suit the needs of the republic in all circumstances is a shot in the dark," Hayden said.

Meanwhile about a week later the LA Times is reporting the President Obama will allow the use of extraordinary rendition, a program widely condemned as outsourcing torture, to continue. In addition the program is seen by intelligence officials as being ineffective:

CIA veterans involved in renditions characterized the program as important but of limited intelligence-gathering use. It is used mainly for terrorism suspects not considered valuable enough for the CIA to keep, they said.

"The reason we did interrogations [ourselves] is because renditions for the most part weren't very productive," said a former senior CIA official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject.

The most valuable intelligence on Al Qaeda came from prisoners who were in CIA custody and questioned by agency experts, the official said. Once prisoners were turned over to Egypt, Jordan or elsewhere, the agency had limited influence over how much intelligence was shared, how prisoners were treated and whether they were later released.

"In some ways, [rendition] is the worst option," the former official said. "If they are in U.S. hands, you have a lot of checks and balances, medics and lawyers. Once you turn them over to another service, you lose control."

This talking out of both sides of his mouth is a recurring pattern so far in the Obama administration.

-Issue rules banning lobbyists from serving in administration positions, then immediately issue waivers to allow them to serve.

-Tell Americans we need to turn down thermostats to cut down fuel consumption and keep the White House at 78 degrees.

-Criticize Americans for conspicuous consumption and serve $125 a pound steaks at a cocktail party, after spending $120,000,000 on your inauguration.

On and on and on. This is going to be a long four years.