Biden on Spy Swap: 'We Got Back Four Really Good Ones'

Despite the uneven exchange, Vice President Joe Biden says the spy swap with Russia was a good deal for the United States because "we got back four really good ones" and the 10 headed to the Russia "hadn't done much" during their espionage careers in this country.

Biden made the comment Friday night in an appearance on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on NBC after the host said the four-for-10 trade "doesn't seem fair." Were the Russian spies "sort of like moles" planted in this country to "see what you can find out," or were they on a specific mission, the comedian asked. "The former," Biden replied, referring to the mole characterization.

The deal between the two countries -- the largest hand-off of spies since the Cold War -- was completed earlier Friday on an airport tarmac in Vienna, Austria. All 10 of the people turned over to the Russians were expelled from the U.S. after pleading guilty to serving as unregistered foreign agents.

In Burbank, Calif., the lighthearted conversation between Biden and Leno included a pointed reference to one particular Russian agent -- mini-celebrity Anna Chapman. Leno produced a photo of the woman and asked, "Do we have any spies that hot?" Biden turned semi-serious and answered, "Let me be clear, it was not my idea to send her back." Instead, he said, "I thought they'd take Rush Limbaugh."

The vice president was totally serious when Leno mentioned the recent firing of Gen. Stanley McChrystal after a Rolling Stone magazine article quoted the four-star general and some of his aides making wisecracks and disparaging comments about members of the Obama administration, including Biden. President Obama had no choice but to relieve McChrystal, Biden said.

"I contacted a group of four-star generals, asked their opinion. They all thought, in the chain of command, he had to go. He was a real warrior. This guy was special... He risked his life for this country more times than 25 other people do in their lifetime." Obama has changed command in Afghanistan -- installing Gen. David Petraeus -- but not policy, Biden said. "So we have the right guy there now."

On late night TV, even In a free-ranging discussion of world events, there is room for sports, in this case the World Cup soccer final between Spain and the Netherlands. "I think the Netherlands are going to win, but what the hell do i know..." Biden said. "I thought Lebron was going to stay."

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