Makes you question what failure is. IRC played an extremely important role in spreading computer science knowledge, bootstrapping what we take today as a granted IT world. It helped build communities for the introverts, with various clients introducing basic scripting and programming technique to the curious minded. For me IRC played an irreplaceable role in my life as a developer and I would never be where I am if it wasn't for the networks built on that protocol. I think that IRC never failed, it was just outgrown.
In the beginning it was only Putin. He has the motive and the means to destroy peace and alliances around the world. He also has the propaganda machine to put leaders in power.