Tom does not understand that what young Justin promised during his campaign was to never use the WORD "combat" when describing what "Canadian" soldiers do to the people  living in nations far, far away.  He's satisfied that he is now fulfilling his promise. 

In other words, when the present government officials see something that looks exactly like a duck and sounds exactly like a duck, they have solemnly promised Canadians that they will never, ever call it a duck. They are so deluded with their own power that they actually think that Canadians will believe that the duck is not a duck. 

They're wrong.