WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., recently returned from the country of Georgia and said the United States must support the former Soviet republic with financial aid.

He did not specify how much aid the United States should send.

“It is vitally important to the U.S. that we play an appropriate role in supporting democracies, like Georgia, that were part of the former Soviet bloc,” said Sen. Corker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He also said “there is no question” that Russia used excessive force in targeting innocent Georgia civilians.

During his two-day trip to Georgia, Sen. Corker met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and surveyed damage and humanitarian operations in the town of Gori.

He also visited shelters staffed by USAID and Mercy Corps, where refugees whose homes were damaged by Russian bombs are being kept.

Sen. Corker said the war between Russia and Georgia highlights the need for the United States to become more energy independent.

“We’re seeing energy demand play out geopolitically, demonstrated by the muted response by many European countries who depend on Russia for oil and gas,” he said.

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