Why Should the US Accept a Gangster's Paradise?

Peter Andreas arguesat Foreign Affairs that we all need to calm down a little on smuggling and industrial espionage. His examples, such as that America was built on the backs of smugglers and other lawbreakers, are a bit weird, no? Not sure you want to urge people to calm down by saying, "but America did all of these things before!" After all, America's actions greatly damaged Britain, right?