File under General Memetics Feasibility:

Sure you could promote or demote an individual or issue, but fine tuned manipulation would just be too difficult. Well, I’ve been proved wrong.

From the archive, a white paper:

There will also be times when it is thought to be necessary, in the context of an integrated information campaign, to pass false or erroneous information through the media ... in support of military deception activities. ... In these cases, extra care must be taken to ensure plausible deniability and non-attribution, as well as employing a well-thought-out deception operation that minimizes the risks of exposure.

Pirates!